# Great Ormond Street Hospital: A Surgeon’s Botched Legacy and Nearly 100 Harmed Children
A damning independent review has revealed that **Yaser Jabbar**, a limb reconstruction surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, harmed **94 patients**, with 36 suffering severe harm during his tenure at the world-renowned institution.[1] The investigation examined 789 patients who received care from Jabbar between June 2017 and September 2023, uncovering a troubling pattern of surgical failures that has left many children with lifelong consequences.
## The Scale of the Crisis
The numbers are staggering. An independent review found that Jabbar may have harmed up to 100 children through botched operations on their legs.[2] Of those affected, at least 32 young people suffered severe harm, chronic pain, and potential lifelong deformities.[2] The review’s findings paint a picture of systemic failures at one of the world’s most prestigious children’s hospitals—an institution that families had placed complete faith and trust in.
Several young people were forced to undergo corrective surgery after Jabbar’s initial procedures, with some left dealing with chronic pain and permanent nerve damage as a result of his work.[2] The types of injuries documented by lawyers representing the families include leg length discrepancies, nerve injuries, and in at least one case, amputation.[2]
## What Went Wrong?
The botched surgeries represent a significant breach of trust at Great Ormond Street Hospital. While Jabbar has been identified as the primary surgeon responsible for the harm, the independent review and hospital management’s response have raised broader questions about institutional accountability and oversight.
One worker at the trust condemned the hospital’s handling of the scandal, accusing management of avoiding responsibility and failing to adequately address systemic failures in how staff concerns were managed.[2] This insider perspective suggests that the problem extended beyond a single “rogue surgeon” to encompass deeper organizational issues.
The worker specifically criticized hospital leadership for focusing blame on the department and Jabbar individually while ignoring management’s failure to respond to concerns raised by staff.[2] Even after the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) issued a report that criticized both the executive team and senior management, the hospital allegedly chose to persecute the consultants who remained in the department rather than implementing meaningful change.[2] According to this account, those senior management figures responsible for systemic failures remain in their positions.
## Families’ Concerns and the “Culture of Cover-Up”
Families of affected children have expressed serious concerns about Great Ormond Street Hospital’s handling of the situation. They have accused the institution of fostering a “culture of cover-up,” claiming that reports about their children’s care did not accurately reflect what actually happened.[2]
Caroline Murgatroyd, a solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors representing families, highlighted the shocking nature of the case: “We have had a significant number of families come forward to seek advice and to share their concerns since the scale of this investigation was made public. What’s particularly shocking is the sheer number of children affected, and the fact that this is a world-renowned hospital, and one which people had complete faith and trust in.”[2]
The revelation has shattered the confidence many families placed in an institution known globally for its excellence in pediatric care. The combination of widespread harm and institutional resistance to accountability has compounded the trauma experienced by these families.
## Hospital Response and Timeline
Great Ormond Street Hospital has issued an apology, stating: “We are deeply sorry to all the children, young people and their families who have been affected by the actions of a surgeon working at GOSH between 2017 and 2022. We have reviewed the care of every single child involved and our report will be shared with families next month before it is made public.”[2]
However, the hospital’s statement has been met with skepticism given the allegations of institutional cover-up and the broader concerns about management accountability raised by staff members and families alike.
## Professional Consequences
Jabbar has not held a legal license to practice medicine in the UK since January 8, 2024.[2] This action came after the extent of his surgical failures became apparent, effectively ending his medical career in Britain.
## Moving Forward
The independent review’s findings represent a critical moment for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Beyond the immediate need to support affected families and ensure proper compensation, the institution faces deeper questions about its governance, oversight mechanisms, and institutional culture.
The case raises important questions about how prestigious medical institutions handle serious allegations of surgical malpractice, the importance of responsive management to staff concerns, and the need for robust systems to protect patients from harm. As families await the full report and pursue accountability, Great Ormond Street Hospital must demonstrate that it can implement meaningful systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
For the nearly 100 children and their families affected by Jabbar’s botched surgeries, this independent review represents both a vindication of their concerns and the beginning of a long journey toward justice and healing.
Original source: BBC News – Great Ormond Street doctor who botched surgery harmed nearly 100 children
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