'Basic care blunder' of doctor at Portland

An anaesthetist at the Portland Hospital "inexcusably" failed to give basic and essential life support to a woman who died after giving birth to her third child by Caesarean section, the General Medical Council heard today.

Dr Kenneth McLeod is accused of serious professional misconduct in his treatment of 36-year-old beauty therapist Tracey Sampson.

She died of acute cardiac failure 24 hours after giving birth to her third son at the private hospital in April 2002.

Counsel for the GMC, Sally Smith, told its professional conduct committee that Mrs Sampson, of Maida Vale, started to have severe breathing problems soon after the delivery.

Despite this Dr McLeod decided to remove her to the recovery room. Miss Smith said Dr McLeod tried various methods to help Mrs Sampson but, crucially at this stage, did not reintubate her to mechanically ventilate her lungs.

This was eventually done and she was later transferred to the intensive care unit St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where she died the next day.

Dr McLeod, of Ealing, denies the charges. The hearing continues.