Doctors' failings 'cost mother newborn twins'

A pregnant woman lost her identical twin boys after receiving "negligent" treatment from two doctors working in a hospital's maternity ward, the General Medical Council was told today.

Obstetricians Grace Edozien and Obalotun Ilori are accused of failing in their treatment of Alison Gardiner, a "high-risk" firsttime mother who had conceived with fertility treatment.

Mrs Gardiner, then 40, was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone in January 2000 after her waters broke, but two days later, when she went into labour complaining of back pain and contractions, Dr Ilori diagnosed a urinary tract infection.

The following day her babies were born by emergency Caesarean section. One was stillborn and the other was seriously ill and died a few days later.

The boys suffered a disorder called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where one infant bleeds into the other.

Dr Ilori, of Chessington, Surrey, denies failing to review a scan of the babies' hearts, which was recording the heartbeat of only one twin, and failing to carry out an internal examination of Mrs Gardiner.

The doctor, who was a senior house officer in obstetrics at the time, has admitted a number of failings to the GMC's professional-conduct committee, including not calling the on-call consultant to get further advice.

Dr Edozien, then a specialist registrar in obstetrics, saw Mrs Gardiner the day before she gave birth but admitted today not contacting the consultant.

The following day, the doctor admitted failing to review a scan of the babies' hearts and the diagnosis, made by Dr Ilori, of a urinary tract infection. Both doctors deny that their actions amounted to serious professional misconduct.

Lydia Barnfather, representing the GMC, said: "As a result of negligent treatment, in particular the failure to deliver the babies early on, one twin was stillborn and the other died within days of birth."

Ms Barnfather said Dr Edozien and Dr Ilori "had more than one opportunity each to avert disaster [which] they did not seize".

Th hearing continues.