References
Implications for reflective practice and safer care in paramedicine: The Bawa-Garba case
Dear Editor,
Your readers may be aware of the Bawa-Garba case in the UK. The High Court ruled, in January 2018, that Hadiza Bawa-Garba, a paediatrics trainee (resident), was to be struck off the General Medical Council (GMC) register in the UK (England and Wales High Court (EWHC), 2018). She was previously convicted of gross negligence manslaughter in 2015 after the death of a 6-year-old boy from sepsis at Leicester Royal Infirmary (Dyer, 2015). A nurse involved in the case was also previously convicted, and struck off the Register of Nurses and Midwives. The consultant with overall clinical responsibility has faced no investigation or sanctions.
There were certainly very serious errors made by Bawa-Garba in the clinical assessment and management of this case (EWHC, 2018). However, the report that resulted from the clinical incident review after the death, also stated that many of the events leading to the boy's death were system failings, which included understaffing, use of agency staff, IT systems failure, demanding workload, and shift scheduling. It included recommendations to improve support for trainees, and enhance patient safety. This report was seemingly not considered in the court case that resulted in the conviction of Bawa-Garba.
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