Caesarean death doctor cleared

A leading doctor at a private London hospital has been cleared of failing to give basic life support to a mother who died after a Caesarean birth.

Dr Kenneth MacLeod was accused of misconduct after Tracey Sampson, 36, a beauty therapist of Maida Vale, died of acute heart failure 24 hours after giving birth at the Portland hospital. The account of her death was described as "extremely alarming and sinister" at a General Medical Council hearing this week.

Sally Smith, QC for the GMC, said there was an "utterly inexcusable failure" by Dr MacLeod to ventilate the patient. He first thought she was showing signs of agitation as a result of anxiety after the birth on 5 April, 2002, but her state "was consistent with respiratory failure", said Miss Smith.

Dr MacLeod, 53, of Ealing, was cleared of failing his patient and serious professional misconduct. He was found guilty of several failings, mostly relating to his record keeping.