I could have done more, weeps Shipman case doctor
A doctor accused of failing to report that serial killer Harold Shipman had given a morphine overdose to a patient, sobbed today and admitted he “had not been good enough”.
Dr Murtaza Husain Husaini, 71, twice broke down and wept as he gave evidence to a General Medical Council tribunal in the UK following the death of the patient in 1995.
He confessed he wished he had “done better” in pursuing his concerns over Shipman and denied he had concocted a story to try to shift the blame to others.
Dr Husaini, of Sharon Avenue, Oldham, told the Fitness to Practise Panel hearing in Manchester that he had acted in “good faith” and had asked the help of several health professionals.
The patient, who was identified only as Ms A, had contacted Shipman after complaining of chest pains.
The mass murderer visited her at her home and administered a “grossly excessive” quantity of morphine which caused the 47-year-old to stop breathing and fall into a persistent vegetative state.
Dr Husaini was working as the director of the intensive care unit of the Tameside General Hospital when the woman was admitted in February 1994.
The hearing was told Shipman administered the 20mg dose of morphine to the patient, who was asthmatic, despite the drug’s side effect of inhibiting breathing.
She remained in the vegetative state until she died 14 months later on April 21, 1995.
Both Dr Husaini and a second doctor, Geraint Ceri Stewart Brown, who was a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care, deny charges of serious professional misconduct.
Dr Husaini said he contacted three health officials and the region’s coroner to highlight concerns over Shipman’s behaviour.
Under cross-examination by Nigel Grundy, Dr Husaini said: “I have discovered I had not been good enough.
“I was sad, so very sad, and I wish I had done better.
“I am absolutely clear that I acted in good faith and I talked to people who I thought would help me and I asked for their help.
“I now know that they did not help me.
“My hurt is that I feel as though I could have done more.
“When I saw the reports in the Shipman inquiry, my heart bled.
“I thought ‘Is that how post-mortems are carried out? Is that how inquiries are held?’
“I feel there were faults in the system. The whole system was wrong.
“My fault was I put my faith in the system.”
