A NAVY surgeon has been suspended for six months after he operated on a 12-year-old’s penis without consent.
Commander Anthony Lambert was supposed to be carrying out an umbilical hernia repair on the child but took it upon himself to operate further.
Plymouth Live/BPM MediaCdr Anthony Lambert operated on a 12-year-old’s penis without consent while carrying out a hernia procedure[/caption]
The navy surgeon told the boy’s parents that he did it without their consent because he was “a bit of nosey t***” and noticed it “didn’t look normal”.
He had served in the Royal Navy for 36 years and was said to be an “extremely senior and respected practitioner” who had reached the rank of surgeon Commander.
Cdr Lambert has now been suspended for six months after he appeared in front of a medical tribunal service.
The surgeon had conducted the procedure at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, while the boy was unconscious under a general anaesthetic on April 20, 2016, a hearing was told.
During the operation, he “undertook a freeing of preputial adhesions” on his penis – without the knowledge or consent of either the boy or his parents.
The boy’s mother lodged a formal complaint three days after the procedure.
Cdr Lambert protested that this was “the first time in 16 years” that he’s faced a complaint.
However, he was investigated in 2014 for using inappropriate language in front of nursing staff, patients and patients’ parents, the hearing was told.
A complaint was made against Cdr Lambert’s conduct in 2018 by a Foundation Year 1 trainee worker.
The surgeon admitted to making comments that were “abusive” and “bullying in nature” towards patients and healthcare professionals.
He told members that he was “devastated by the consequences of his actions” and had done the procedure in good faith.
Members also heard how stress could’ve played a part in his behaviour, which he suffered from during his deployment in combat zones.
Although Cdr Lambert has retired there is the risk he could choose to return to work, the panel heard.
They decided that his decision to examine and operate without consent was made worse by the patient’s age.
Cdr Lambert reportedly made little effort to find the boy’s parents after he noticed the “abnormality on his penis”.
They added: “The tribunal considered that members of the medical profession would find the act of a doctor operating on a child without any form of consent, or following an express refusal of consent to be deplorable.
“The Tribunal concluded that this misconduct was serious – obtaining consent before carrying out a procedure or physical investigation on a patient is a fundamental tenet of the medical profession.”
Cdr Lambert was allegedly refused consent by the patient and his parents on two occasions, the tribunal claimed.
The tribunal concluded that the surgeon’s actions amounted to serious misconduct, and he was suspended for six months.
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