Yaser Jabbar: Orthopaedic Surgeon - NHS Hot Topics, Medical School Interview Preparation, and Key Ethical Issues
Updated: 3 days ago
In your medical school interviews, it’s crucial to be prepared with relevant hot topics to demonstrate your ethical reasoning skills.
This article covers everything you need to know about the Yaser Jabbar case – from what happened and its ethical implications to sample interview questions and model answers.
Use this guide to understand the key issues and build strong responses for your UK medical school interviews.
Combine your reading here with medicine interview tutoring to boost your answers and delivery.
Yaser Jabbar Case Summary: Key Points for Medical Interviews
Yaser Jabbar at GOSH: Jabbar was a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) from 2017 to 2022, specialising in complex lower limb surgeries.
Concerns Raised: In 2022, a Royal College of Surgeons review identified Jabbar’s involvement in unnecessary surgeries including limb lengthening surgeries.
GMC Restrictions: The GMC restricted Jabbar’s licence to practice medicine, requiring close supervision
Case Review Findings: Reviews of over 700 cases revealed preventable complications, with severe harm in several patients, constituting medical negligence.
GOSH’s Response: GOSH issued a public apology, pledged greater transparency, and extended the patient review to four more hospitals.
👉🏻 Read more: Ultimate Medicine Interview Preparation Guide
Who is Yaser Jabbar?
Yaser Jabbar was a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London from 2017 – 2022, specialising in lower limb surgeries for children, including limb lengthening and complex reconstructions.
Yaser Jabbar became the subject of significant controversy after staff and families raised concerns over his treatment practices.
The Royal College of Surgeons conducted an external review of more than 700 patients treated by Yaser Jabbar, uncovering numerous cases where children experienced avoidable harm under his care, signifying a severe compromise of patient safety.
The GMC imposed restrictions on Yaser Jabbar following the review, mandating that he work under supervision if he returns to clinical practice.
👉🏻 Read more: NHS Core Values
Yaser Jabbar Case – Timeline of Events:
Find below a timeline of the events in the Yaser Jabbar case.
These are the key facts you need to know about the Yaser Jabbar Case for your medicine interview this year:
2017 – Yaser Jabbar Joins Great Ormond Street Hospital
Yaser Jabbar joins GOSH as a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, specialising in lower limb surgeries, including limb lengthening and complex reconstructions.
2022 – Concerns over Patient Safety raised by Families and Staff
In 2022, concerns surrounding Yaser Jabber’s conduct were raised with senior managers at GOSH, with no records of reported concerns before this.
January 2023 – Royal College of Surgeons Conducts Initial review
A report into Jabber’s conduct was commissioned within 18 days of senior management at GOSH becoming aware of patient safety concerns.
The RCS found evidence suggesting numerous unnecessary surgical procedures carried out on children treated by Mr Jabber, many of whom faced harmful complications.
January 4th, 2023 – GMC Imposes Restrictions on Yaser Jabbar
Following the findings of the RCS report, the GMC instates conditions on Jabbar’s medical licence, preventing him from practising without strict supervision.
Additionally, the GMC mandated that he seek approval before taking any non-NHS posts, in a move to ensure patient safety moving forward.
September 2024 - Review Finds Harm in 26 of 39 Cases investigated
Out of 39 Cases assessed, it was found that 13 children experienced mild, or moderate harm, while another 13 children experienced ‘severe harm’, with potentially life-threatening injuries.
October 2024 – GOSH Expands Review to 721 cases
Within the following month, GOSH expanded the review to cover all 721 cases that Jabbar handled as a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.
November 2024 – Public Apology and Patient Outreach
Great Ormond Street Hospital made a public statement conveying ‘sincere apologies’ to all the families whose children were treated by Yaser Jabbar, offering support and assistance to those where ‘harm was identified’.
Patient outreach intended to be open and transparent with families about potential issues as well as reassure them of the hospital’s commitment to improving patient safety.
Ongoing – Expansion of Review and Legal Proceedings
The review is expected to expand to 4 more hospitals, including St John and St Elizabeth Hospital, Cromwell Hospital, the Portland Hospital, and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Families affected by Jabbar’s practices are being encouraged to seek legal advice if needed. GOSH has pledged to implement stricter oversight protocols based on the findings of this case to prevent future occurrences.
👉🏼 Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Whistleblowing in the NHS
Orthopaedic Surgeon Yaser Jabbar: Ethical Considerations and Medical Negligence
The Yaser Jabbar case raises some key ethical issues that are essential to consider when preparing for your interview, where following the GMC’s Good Medical Practice, and being aware of your moral duty is vital.
Patient Safety and Quality of Care
One of the NHS's core principles is to provide safe, dependable care for every patient. Any violation of patient trust can have serious effects.
Numerous children reportedly experienced preventable complications following surgeries performed by Jabbar.
An example of this is a six-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis, who was operated on by Yaser Jabbar multiple times over 15 months. The review of her care found that she had sustained multiple ‘unsuccessful and painful’ procedures, leading to the amputation of her leg below the knee in 2022.
At the core of patient safety is informed decision-making. The review found a ‘pattern of poor decision-making’ and a fundamental failure to discuss and inform parents about the risks and benefits of various treatment options.
Such cases undermine healthcare trust and emphasise the critical need for diligent, evidence-based decision-making in paediatric care.
Institutional Oversight and Responsibility
Another ethical concern is the hospital's role in overseeing its staff and ensuring safe practices.
The delayed recognition of issues in Jabbar’s practice, despite complaints from families and staff, points to potential gaps in institutional oversight.
Effective checks and an open and safe environment to report concerns are necessary to uphold ethical standards and prevent harm to patients in the future.
Public Trust and Professional Integrity
This case also raises broader ethical issues surrounding public trust in healthcare institutions.
High-profile cases can damage public confidence in medical professionals and healthcare systems, particularly involving vulnerable populations like children.
GOSH responded by apologising for the harmful impact that Jabbar may have had on his patients and offered support and legal counselling for those affected.
👉🏻 Wondering how to demonstrate your knowledge of medical ethics in your UK Medical School Interviews? Check out this article to understand more about how to structure your answer
Yaser Jabbar: Comparing Previous NHS Medical Scandals
Numerous healthcare scandals in the past share similarities with the Yaser Jabbar case. These may be useful to reference in your UK medical school interviews, as they demonstrate a breadth of knowledge about NHS scandals.
Yaser Jabbar case vs. Ian Paterson case:
The Ian Paterson case, involving a UK surgeon who performed unnecessary 'lumpectomy' surgeries from 1994 to 2009, shares notable parallels with the Yaser Jabbar case.
Here’s how both cases raise similar ethical concerns:
Breach of Patient Trust: Both Jabbar and Paterson performed surgeries later deemed unnecessary, undermining patients' trust in their surgeons and the healthcare system.
Lack of Informed Consent: In both cases, patients were not fully informed about the risks or necessity of the procedures, violating ethical standards around consent.
Severe Patient Harm: The unnecessary surgeries resulted in long-lasting, sometimes life-altering harm, with patients facing severe complications and preventable suffering.
Impact on Public Trust: Both cases have significantly impacted public confidence in the medical profession, leading to calls for greater NHS oversight and transparency.
Yaser Jabbar case vs. Lucy Letby case:
The Lucy Letby case, involving a UK nurse convicted of harming newborns, shares disturbing similarities with the Yaser Jabbar case, especially concerning ethical breaches in patient care.
Here’s how both cases highlight critical concerns in medical ethics:
Breach of Patient Safety: Both Jabbar and Letby compromised patient safety, with their actions resulting in severe, life-altering harm to vulnerable patients, including children.
Violation of Professional Trust: In both cases, there was a significant betrayal of the trust placed in healthcare professionals by patients and families, highlighting the vulnerability of patients within clinical settings.
Failure of Oversight: Each case has raised questions around oversight in healthcare settings, where warning signs were either missed or insufficiently acted upon, underscoring the need for more robust monitoring systems.
Impact on Public Confidence: The cases have deeply shaken public trust in the NHS and the healthcare profession, prompting calls for systemic reforms to enhance transparency and protect patient welfare.
👉🏻 Read more: The Trial of Lucy Letby
Yaser Jabbar case vs. Harold Shipman case:
The Harold Shipman case, involving a UK doctor convicted of murdering patients, presents stark ethical and professional parallels to the Yaser Jabbar case. Here’s how these cases reflect serious concerns in medical ethics and healthcare accountability:
Breach of Patient Trust: Both Shipman and Jabbar violated the foundational trust between patients and healthcare providers, exploiting their positions in ways that caused irreversible harm.
Negligence in Monitoring: In both cases, failures in institutional oversight allowed harmful practices to continue unchecked, highlighting weaknesses in the systems meant to protect patient safety.
Systemic Failures in Reporting: Both cases underscore a breakdown in reporting mechanisms, where warning signs and concerns were either dismissed or inadequately addressed, pointing to the need for improved communication and action protocols.
Impact on Public Confidence in Healthcare: The significant harm caused by both Shipman and Jabbar severely damaged public confidence in the healthcare system, fueling calls for reforms focused on transparency, accountability, and better monitoring.
👉🏻 Read more: Harold Shipman Medicine Interview Questions
Yaser Jabbar Medical Interview Question and Model Answer
How does the Yaser Jabbar case illustrate the importance of ethical principles like patient safety and informed consent in medical practice?
The Yaser Jabbar case underscores significant breaches in patient safety and informed consent, both essential pillars of medical ethics. His unnecessary surgeries led to preventable harm, violating the core principle of “non-maleficence,” which requires healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients. Such actions directly compromise the ethical responsibility that doctors hold toward safeguarding patient welfare.
Additionally, the case raises issues around patient autonomy, as families were not adequately informed about potential risks and benefits, limiting their ability to make fully informed decisions. Cases like this highlight the vital need for transparency and accountability within healthcare to maintain public trust and uphold high standards of ethical practice.
👉🏻 Read more: Answering Medical Ethics Questions
Yaser Jabbar Mock Interview Questions and Answers
Here are some practice medical school interview questions relating to the Yaser Jabbar case and medical misconduct. In your answers consider how the question relates to medical ethics and patient trust.
What do you know about the Yaser Jabbar case?
What are the ethical implications of performing unnecessary surgeries on patients, as seen in the Yaser Jabbar case?
How would you ensure patient safety and trust if you were aware of questionable practices in your medical team?
What steps can healthcare institutions take to prevent cases similar to Yaser Jabbar’s from happening again?
What is the duty of candour?
What should doctors do when mistakes happen?
How would you deal with a junior doctor making a mistake in your team?
What are the consequences for the medical profession when a case like Jabbar’s breaches patient trust and informed consent?
👉🏻 Read more: 280 Medical School Practice Interview Questions
Yaser Jabbar Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yaser Jabbar, and what role did he play at Great Ormond Street Hospital?
Mr Jabbar was a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital from 2017 to 2022, specialising in lower limb surgeries for children, including complex reconstructions and limb lengthening procedures.
What led to the investigation into Yaser Jabbar’s medical practices?
The investigation into Mr Jabbar's medical practices was triggered by concerns raised by both families and hospital staff about potentially unnecessary and harmful surgeries that led to severe patient complications.
What were the findings of the Royal College of Surgeons' review of Yaser Jabbar’s cases?
The Royal College of Surgeons found evidence of numerous unnecessary surgeries performed by Yaser Jabbar, leading to significant patient harm, including complications such as nerve damage and limb discrepancies.
What actions did the General Medical Council (GMC) take regarding Yaser Jabbar’s medical licence?
The General Medical Council imposed restrictions on Yaser Jabbar’s practice, requiring him to work under supervision and seek approval for any non-NHS roles, ensuring patient safety and oversight.
What were some of the ethical concerns raised by Yaser Jabbar’s case?
The main ethical concerns included breaches of patient safety, lack of informed consent, failure of institutional oversight, and the damage done to public trust in healthcare institutions.
How does the Yaser Jabbar case compare to the Ian Paterson case?
Both cases involve breaches of patient trust and safety, with unnecessary surgeries causing harm to patients. Ian Paterson performed unwarranted surgeries on hundreds of women, while Yaser Jabbar's actions involved unnecessary paediatric surgeries, both leading to lasting damage to patient health and public confidence.
How many cases were reviewed during the investigation into Yaser Jabbar’s treatment of patients?
Over 700 cases were reviewed during the investigation, with initial findings indicating that 26 cases involved severe or moderate harm to patients.
What were the outcomes for patients treated by Yaser Jabbar?
Many patients experienced avoidable complications, including painful surgeries, life-altering injuries, and, in some cases, the need for limb amputations due to unsuccessful procedures performed by Jabbar.
What steps has Great Ormond Street Hospital taken to address the Yaser Jabbar case?
GOSH issued a public apology, initiated outreach to affected families, and committed to further reviews of Jabbar’s cases. The hospital has also pledged to implement stricter oversight protocols moving forward.
What are the ongoing legal proceedings related to Yaser Jabbar’s case?
Legal proceedings are continuing, with families encouraged to seek legal advice regarding their children's treatment. Additionally, the review of Jabbar’s cases is expanding to other hospitals where he may have worked, including St. John and St. Elizabeth Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
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