St Helier Hospital in Sutton has made changes to its A&E protocol following a doctor’s incorrect diagnosis and prescription of fentanyl to elderly patients without consulting their medical history. Dr Atila Morlocan has been suspended for seven months by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) for his actions. The hospital has now implemented new prescribing practices and provided additional training to doctors on how to identify Cauda Equina Syndrome, which Morlocan failed to diagnose in a patient.
The case against Dr Morlocan focused on two incidents at St Helier A&E where he provided poor clinical care. In the first incident, an 80-year-old man, Patient A, visited A&E with leg pain. Despite being prescribed fentanyl patches without access to his GP notes, the patient tragically passed away two days later. The tribunal found that Morlocan did not provide good clinical care when prescribing such a high dose of fentanyl to the patient. Additionally, he failed to provide adequate safety netting advice about the risks of taking fentanyl.
In another incident involving Patient D, Morlocan failed to initially diagnose her with Cauda Equina Syndrome, leading to her requiring emergency surgery later on. The tribunal determined that Morlocan disregarded NICE guidelines and should have identified the red-flag symptoms of the condition during their first meeting.
Despite these failings, colleagues of Dr Morlocan praised his excellent patient care as an A&E doctor. However, the MPTS issued a seven-month suspension to Dr Morlocan for his serious clinical failings. The hospital has since reevaluated its A&E practices, banning the prescription of opioid patches and implementing measures to increase staff awareness of red flags for conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome.
In response to the incidents, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust have introduced new measures in their emergency departments to prevent similar errors in the future. These measures include teaching sessions, assessment document checklists for red flag symptoms, and updated patient information leaflets. The hospital has taken the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by Dr Morlocan’s actions and ensure the safety and well-being of their patients in the future.
