Pathologist to face panel

- 11 November 2004;Used with kind permission of the Kentish Gazette

A former Kent and Canterbury Hospital pathologist, whose alleged misdiagnosis led to a woman undergoing a mastectomy, will face a misconduct hearing before the General Medical Council today (Thursday). Dr Alexander Gibson, from Bridge, is also said to have failed to recognise medical conditions or abnormalities, including potentially cancerous cells in five other women's smear test results.

The case is connected with the inquiry into the cervical screening procedures at the K&C, which found systematic failings in the programme.

Dr Gibson, 67, and now retired from practice, was a consultant pathologist with the trust and the allegations relate to his work between 1990 and 1995.

The case will be considered by the General Medical Council's Fitness to Practice panel.

A High Court bid by Dr Gibson to have the case dropped because of the long delay since the alleged failings and the prejudice against him failed last week.

Harman and Harman represent the complainants against Dr Gibson