When care causes harm: understanding surgical risk
Written by Mike Shiers | Medical Negligence team | 4 February 2026
In late January 2026, an independent review was published into the treatment of children by an orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The review found that 94 children were harmed during care provided by the surgeon between 2017 and 2022, out of a total of nearly 800 patients examined.
The harm ranged from relatively mild complications to cases where procedures did not achieve their intended outcome. Great Ormond Street Hospital issued a formal apology and confirmed that changes had been made to improve oversight, monitoring and clinical decision-making. The surgeon involved is no longer licensed to practise in the UK.
Clinical practice and uncertainty
Surgery is rarely straightforward. This is especially true in paediatric orthopaedics, where clinicians are often treating developing bodies and complex conditions with no guaranteed outcomes. Even when care meets accepted standards, complications can occur and results may differ from what families hoped for.
That distinction matters. Not every poor outcome is the result of negligence.
However, the review also raised concerns beyond individual clinical decisions, including issues around consent, record-keeping and the escalation of concerns. These are the kinds of systemic factors that sit at the heart of many medical negligence cases, and they deserve careful attention.
What this means for families
For parents and carers, allowing a child to undergo surgery involves an enormous amount of trust. When outcomes are unexpected or problems persist, the impact can be deeply distressing, not only physically, but emotionally and practically too.
In these situations, it can be hard to know what questions to ask or whether what has happened is simply an unfortunate complication or something more serious. Many families live with uncertainty for months or years before seeking clarity.
Understanding when care falls below standards
Medical negligence is not about medicine being imperfect. It is about whether care fell below the standard that a reasonable body of medical professionals would have provided in similar circumstances, and whether that failing caused harm.
Issues such as unnecessary procedures, inadequate consent, delayed diagnosis, poor post-operative care or a failure to act on concerns can all form part of that assessment. Each case is highly individual and needs careful, expert review.
Keeping the conversation open
Stories like this highlight the complexity of modern healthcare. They remind us that while most care is delivered safely and compassionately, robust systems, transparency and accountability remain essential, particularly when children are involved.
Open discussion around medical negligence is not about undermining confidence in healthcare. It is about understanding risk, learning from failures and ensuring that patients and families are properly supported when things go wrong.
If you have concerns about care
If you or your child have experienced treatment outcomes that don’t feel right, and you’re wondering whether the care provided met appropriate standards, specialist advice can help you understand your position.
Our Medical Negligence solicitors can review medical records, seek independent expert opinion and explain whether compensation may be available. An initial conversation is often enough to bring clarity, even if you decide not to take things further.
When you contact us, you’ll speak to an experienced lawyer right away. You can reach us on 01752 827085 or email us at medneg@nash.co.uk. We’ll do all we can to help you.
