Hungarian paediatrician working in the UK for 12 years is ordered to retrain after leaving a boy fighting for life when he misread an injection label then failing English tests as he continued to work
- Dr Gyorgy Rakoczy was temporarily suspended after misreading drug label
- His error left a boy needing 30 operations and needing a colostomy bag
- After returning to work, doctor failed an English test and came before tribunal
- Tribunal orders 64 year old practice under conditions until he passes the test
Dr Gyorgy Rakoczy, a Hungarian doctor working at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, has been ordered to complete an English language course
A Hungarian children’s doctor who left a little boy fighting for life following a bungled operation is to undergo re-training after he failed English tests.
Dr Gyorgy Rakoczy, who worked at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, wrongly injected the four year old with a potentially lethal amount of carbolic acid when he misread a label in 2009.
The 64 year old was temporarily suspended over the error, but then failed English tests in listening, reading, writing and speaking after he returned to work in 2017.
He was brought before a Medical Practitioners Tribunal this week, which put him under conditions until he has completed a English language course.
The tribunal panel heard Dr Rakoczy, who is originally from Budapest, has been working in the UK since 2007.
The paediatrician was originally disciplined after a botched operation at the hospital in May 2009, in which a boy was injected with 80 per cent phenol.
At the time Rakoczy – who was said to have a ‘limited command’ of the English language – was meant to use a five per cent concentration of the substance but mis-read the label.
The boy, who had been admitted over a suspected haemorrhoid, ended up with ‘catastrophic’ internal injuries and was left needing a colostomy bag.
Dr Rakoczy was temporarily suspended from his work at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (pictured) after his misread a medicine bottle, causing a young boy serious internal injuries
He required over 30 corrective operations, including the removal of a section of bowel and his parents – both healthcare professionals – said he found it difficult going to the park and attending birthday parties.
Rakoczy was allowed to carry on working at the hospital following the operation but was suspended for three months in 2012 for serious misconduct after a General Medical Council investigation.
He said he had an ‘exceptionally heavy workload’, including a number of important research and teaching roles and said he had ‘terrible nightmares and sleepless nights’ since the bungled surgery.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told Rakoczy later had to work at the hospital under supervision with another consultant directly watching over him in theatre and having to dictate letters relating to treatments.
He underwent an assessment of his performance in 2016 and the following year took a test under the International English Language Testing System but he only scored an overall mark of 6.0 when he required 7.5 to pass.
The hearing was told a team of assessors said there were ‘issues with his command of English’ and ‘had difficulties with the use of it’ with one saying she ‘struggled to understand Rakcozy at times.’
But hospital colleagues said, whilst the surgeon’s English was ‘not perfect’, it had ‘improved considerably’ and he was able to discuss matters and participate in team meetings.
A patient also came forward when to say the doctor would ‘go beyond the call of duty’ and added that she would be happy for him to ‘perform surgery on her child tomorrow.’
The doctor’s case came before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (pictured)
Ruling on the doctor’s future, panel chairman David Urpeth said: ‘The Tribunal recognises that Mr Rakoczy is a skilled and highly regarded doctor who has practised in the UK for many years.
‘It also recognises that his colleagues raise no concern about his ability to communicate with colleagues and patients. However, the Tribunal simply cannot ignore the fact that Mr Rakoczy has failed to achieve the minimum level of pass mark in two IELTS tests.
‘It concluded that, in light of Mr Rakoczy’s failure to achieve the minimum level of pass mark or acceptable overall level of pass mark; despite his extensive time working as a consultant, and the evidence of his colleagues about his communication skills, these do not amount to exceptional circumstances.
‘It was of the view that a lack of English language skills at the required standard could present a risk to patient safety. Further, the Tribunal considered that an ordinary and well informed member of the public would be surprised to learn that a doctor who had failed the English language tests had not been found to be impaired.’
Under the terms of his conditions, Rakoczy must notify the General Medical Council of any medical jobs he takes and show evidence he has passed an English language assessment. He was cleared of unrelated allegations of ‘unacceptable professional performance.’