The PA Regional Newswire for English Regions
LONDON — A London paramedic who stopped resuscitation on a new-born baby did so against clear guidance and without authority, a hearing was told.
Khalid Abdel-Rahim, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service, faces being struck off by a conduct and competence committee at the Health Professions Council in London.
A panel heard Mr Abdel-Rahim responded to an emergency call at 2.25am on May 19 last year, accompanied by a newly-qualified female emergency medical technician.
The patient had had no ante-natal care, was not registered with a GP and refused to go to a hospital.
She gave birth shortly after the crew arrived at the scene, but the baby was not breathing, the panel heard.
Chris Whalley, for the HPC, told the panel the technician, who was junior to the paramedic, attempted resuscitation, even though Mr Abdel-Rahim should have taken the lead.
After about 15 minutes, Mr Abdel-Rahim made the decision to stop, although he did not have the authority to do so, the committee was told. Mr Whalley said: “He should not have made this decision and he did not have the authority to do so.’'
Mr Abdul-Rahim was also accused of a number of other failings, including that he failed to call for a second ambulance crew and midwife when it became obvious that birth was imminent.
He also left the technician to attend to the patient and baby in the back of the ambulance when she was eventually persuaded to go to the hospital, when, as the paramedic, he should have attended to the patient himself.
On arrival, staff did attempt to restart the resuscitation, but the child was pronounced stillborn at 3.45am. The HPC would not disclose the name of the hospital other than it was a large teaching hospital in London and the patient’s address was less than a mile away.
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