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HIV positive surgeon allowed to operate

Professor George Browning, an ear specialist at the Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow, will conduct operations when there is deemed to be no measurable risk of the virus being transmitted to patients or staff. The intricate middle ear surgery is carried out using instruments, with no physical contact between surgeon and patient.

The decision to allow Professor Browning to return to the operating theatre was taken after detailed consideration of the circumstances by his employers, the West Glasgow Hospitals Trust, which took advice from the Department of Health's UK Advisory Panel for Healthcare Workers Infected with Bloodborne Viruses.

The trust's medical director, Dr Adam Bryson, said that everyone concerned was satisfied that there was no threat to patient safety. "The public can be reassured that the Department of Health and our own experts have considered this extremely carefully and comprehensively," he added.

Patients to be operated on by Professor Browning will be asked to sign a consent form stating that they know that he is HIV positive, and anyone can ask for another surgeon if he or she wishes. The professor will be required to have frequent health checks, and during operations instruments will have to be placed on a tray rather than handed directly between him and theatre staff.

Professor Browning discovered that he was HIV positive almost two years ago and decided to make a public announcement shortly afterwards. He has been taking outpatient clinics and carrying out teaching duties for the past 18 months while campaigning to return to surgery. He said that he was delighted at the trust's decision and hoped that the positive outcome of his case would help reduce the fear faced by other HIV positive healthcare workers in revealing their condition. He said that he had been contacted by some people who were reluctant to inform their employers that they were infected with the virus: "I hope they will be reassured by my case and do what is in their own and their patients' interests."

Under current guidelines health workers who think that they may be HIV positive are advised to inform their employer. If there is considered to be no risk to patients the person concerned can continue working. Professor Browning's public declaration of his condition makes him the first known surgeon to return to the operating theatre, but similar cases may have already been handled confidentially.

View larger version (95K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Professor Browning is delighted at the trust's decision

Professor Browning said that he was encouraged throughout his campaign by the support he received from his patients, and the decision to allow him to operate again was welcomed both by patients' and HIV groups. Patricia Dawson, director of the Scottish Association of Local Health Councils, praised the professor for the way he had conducted himself and the importance he attached to ensuring the safety of his patients. However, she said that the decision could not be seen as establishing any precedent as every case had to be judged on its particular circumstances.

Roy Kilpatrick, coordinator of the Scottish HIV and AIDS Voluntary Forum, said: "I would congratulate him for being so honest and straightforward about the issues. People who are HIV positive are more likely to come forward if they realise they will be dealt with sympathetically."--BRYAN CHRISTIE, health correspondent, Scotsman

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Menage, J. (1997). Doctors maintain patients' dependence, whereas counsellors give them control. BMJ 314: 517-517 [Full text]