<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><div>A German surgeon showed scant regard for the welfare of a 94-year-old patient as he swore in his native language during a botched hip operation, a disciplinary hearing heard today.</div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br></span></div>The German surgeon is accused of a catalogue of failings, including reverting to a language other than English, making uncontrolled use of a power saw and failing to communicate effectively with his colleagues.</span><div>
<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; ">[...]</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">
The fitness to practise panel was told that a staff sister recalled Kolb speaking in German and thought she heard him swear "as he struggled to carry out the procedure".</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">
Dr Unesh Nagare, who was assisting in the operation, also saw him mumbling and speaking in a different language. A colleague had to take over as Kolb had approached the hip through the wrong plane and "didn't know where he was".</p>
</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; ">[...]</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">
Kolb had an "impressive CV" and was considered "very good at English". He was employed by the trust as a locum while a surgeon took annual leave.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">
The hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, continues. Kolb claims he is being made a scapegoat because of his nationality. He previously told a German newspaper: "As a German doctor and without a witness, I have no chance."</p>
</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; ">The rest of the story is here:</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br></span></font></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/14/doctor-werner-kolb-disciplinary-hearing">http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/14/doctor-werner-kolb-disciplinary-hearing</a></span></div>
<br>-- <br>Dr. Gareth Price<br>Visiting Assistant Professor<br>CSEEES/Linguistics Program<br>Duke University<br>Durham, NC<br>27708-2960<br><br><br>