Doctor who misdiagnosed girl’s fatal appendicitis as stomach bug receives warning

A consultant paediatrician who misdiagnosed appendicitis as a stomach virus and allowed a 5 year old girl who later died to return home has been given a written warning by a medical practitioners tribunal.

Although Faye Hawkins’s misconduct in the treatment of Elspeth Moore four years ago was serious, her practice was not currently impaired, said the tribunal chair, Colin Chapman, since “she has taken all necessary steps to prevent recurrence of her misconduct” and had proved herself a diligent and capable doctor since.

Elspeth was brought to her GP in July 2018 by her mother, who described a week long illness with lower abdominal pains, diarrhoea, a high temperature, reduced appetite, and minimal urine output. The GP referred her to the paediatric assessment unit of Southampton General …