A widower is appealing against a medical watchdog’s decision after it ruled there was no grounds for complaint against two hospital practitioners at St George’s Hospital.
Norman Cave, of Sutton, claims his cancer-sufferer wife Trelene, who died in 2007, was treated as a “human guinea pig” after doctors carried out tests on her without her knowledge.
Mr Cave, a television advertising producer, claims the General Medical Council did not take his complaints seriously after they ruled in 2007 there was “no evidence of impairment” and has now lodged an appeal in the High Court.
His MP Paul Burstow has said he thinks the GMC has a case to answer for.
He said: “There is a real story about doctors’ responsibility to ensure they have properly informed patients and asked for consent before they proceed with treatment.”
Mrs Cave was diagnosed with cancer in summer of 2005 and was originally treated at Epsom General Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, but was referred to St George’s, Tooting, for a second opinion.
Mr Cave claims that while at St George’s his wife underwent a number of aetiology tests – to find out the predisposition of the cancer – without her knowledge.
She was then asked to fill out a number of questionnaires and after one of the tests, Mrs Cave suffered a pulmonary embolus and had to go to the intensive therapy unit.
He said: “This smacks of a whitewash or a cover up, it’s a disgrace.
"The GMC did not take into consideration much of the evidence I presented and could not have reached a justified conclusion as they did not interview the three practitioners.
“My wife could have lived for longer if she had not had these tests, it’s appalling.”
A GMC spokeswoman said the authority would not discuss individual cases.
She said: “Anyone who disagrees with a decision taken by the GMC can apply for a judicial review.
"If an application is granted, a judge will decide whether the GMC applied the rules correctly in reaching its decision.
“The purpose of the GMC is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring the proper standards in the practise of medicine.”
A St George’s Hospital spokesman said: “This case has been investigated internally and by the GMC and no cause for concern was found.
"We await the result of the High Court appeal.”
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