Doctor who failed to spot Ruth Picardie's cancer struck off

The doctor who failed to diagnose Ruth Picardie with breast cancer in time to save her has been struck off the medical register for medical negligence.

Ruth Picardie, a journalist at the Observer, died in 1997 through the incompetence of Dr Puvaneswary Markandoo.

According to an assessment panel, Dr Markandoo lacks the competence of a newly-qualified doctor and has been implicated in failings at Guy's hospital in London, and at Barnsley hospital in South Yorkshire.

When working at Guy's hospital, Dr Markandoo also caused the death of Beth Wagstaff, who co-founded the Lavender Trust in Picardie's memory before she also died of breast cancer.

Lawyers successfully pursued the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS foundation trust for medical negligence but Dr Markandoo had left the trust before the case was settled.

However, following a barrage of evidence indicting Dr Markandoo, she has been struck off the medical register.

A doctor is required by the General Medical Council to inform a patient when treatment has gone wrong or a mistake has been made.

When a mistake has led to injury or death, a doctor has breached their duty of care and persons are entitled to compensation.

In extreme cases, such as that of Dr Markandoo, a doctor will also be prohibited from practising, as they pose a danger to the community.

Published by Tessa Jones