A former orthopedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, Yaser Jabbar, has faced serious allegations of performing inappropriate and unnecessary leg surgeries that have caused significant harm to multiple children.

The hospital issued a formal apology to the affected patients and their families. In response to concerns raised by families and staff, GOSH has requested the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) to review its pediatric orthopedic services in 2022.

“In 2022 we asked the Royal College of Surgeons to review our paediatric orthopaedic service, after concerns were raised by a number of our patient families and staff. As part of this, we are carrying out a review into the care of some of our patients. We have written directly to all patients and their families whose care is being reviewed so please be assured you would have been contacted if we are looking at your care,” a spokesperson for Gosh said in a statement.

The surgeon at the center of the media attention has not worked at GOSH since 2022. The hospital has prioritized ensuring that all patients have their care thoroughly reviewed, and they are working through this group to understand any issues related to their treatment.

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“This is a complex task and is taking some time. If when reviewing a patient’s care we find instances of harm we will contact patients and families again to determine the next steps for them. We are committed to learning from every single patient that we treat and to being open and transparent with our families when care falls below the high standards we strive for. Inviting external reviews into our services helps us to identify any changes that need to be made to ensure we are delivering the very best care for our patients.”

An external review of 39 cases found that 13 children experienced severe harm, while nine faced low to moderate harm, and two cases were referred for further peer evaluation. The remaining 15 patients showed no signs of harm. Some children were left with legs up to 20 cm shorter and endured chronic pain for years, with one particularly severe case resulting in a limb amputation.

An urgent review of 721 cases treated by Jabbar has revealed that 13 children have suffered severe harm, with one case resulting in amputation.