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Doctor found not guilty of performing FGM | Doctor found not guilty of performing FGM |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An NHS doctor has been cleared of performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on a young mother. | An NHS doctor has been cleared of performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on a young mother. |
Dhanuson Dharmasena, 32, was accused of carrying out the illegal procedure when stitching the woman after she gave birth at the Whittington Hospital, north London, in 2012. | Dhanuson Dharmasena, 32, was accused of carrying out the illegal procedure when stitching the woman after she gave birth at the Whittington Hospital, north London, in 2012. |
A second man, Hasan Mohamed, 41, of Holloway, north London, has been cleared of aiding and abetting him. | A second man, Hasan Mohamed, 41, of Holloway, north London, has been cleared of aiding and abetting him. |
The trial marked the first prosecution of its kind in the UK. | The trial marked the first prosecution of its kind in the UK. |
A jury acquitted Dr Dharmasena after less than half an hour of deliberations. | A jury acquitted Dr Dharmasena after less than half an hour of deliberations. |
Defence barrister Zoe Johnson QC said he had "been hung out to dry" and forced to pay the "ultimate price" for hospital failings. | Defence barrister Zoe Johnson QC said he had "been hung out to dry" and forced to pay the "ultimate price" for hospital failings. |
It had been alleged that the stitching Dr Dharmasena performed on the woman effectively redid the FGM carried out on her as a six-year-old in Somalia. | It had been alleged that the stitching Dr Dharmasena performed on the woman effectively redid the FGM carried out on her as a six-year-old in Somalia. |
Dr Dharmasena, of Ilford, north-east London, told Southwark Crown Court he "regarded FGM as an abhorrent practice". | Dr Dharmasena, of Ilford, north-east London, told Southwark Crown Court he "regarded FGM as an abhorrent practice". |
After the verdict, he said: "I am extremely relieved with the court's verdict and I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the facts." | After the verdict, he said: "I am extremely relieved with the court's verdict and I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the facts." |
He said he looked forward to putting the matter behind him. | He said he looked forward to putting the matter behind him. |
He now faces an investigation by the General Medical Council, which suspended him in March. Since then, he has been working in a lab carrying out research. | He now faces an investigation by the General Medical Council, which suspended him in March. Since then, he has been working in a lab carrying out research. |
The two-week trial heard the mother was taken to the Whittington Hospital in north London on 24 November 2012. | The two-week trial heard the mother was taken to the Whittington Hospital in north London on 24 November 2012. |
But hospital trust failings meant she had not been placed on the FGM pathway as she should have been. | But hospital trust failings meant she had not been placed on the FGM pathway as she should have been. |
Instead Dr Dharmasena, then a junior registrar, faced the "nightmarish scenario" of discovering she was circumcised as she went into emergency labour. | Instead Dr Dharmasena, then a junior registrar, faced the "nightmarish scenario" of discovering she was circumcised as she went into emergency labour. |
He had never treated a woman with FGM before or received any training in it. | He had never treated a woman with FGM before or received any training in it. |
'Enormous step forward' | 'Enormous step forward' |
Ms Johnson said: "Female genital mutilation is not going to be stopped in this country by labelling Dr Dharmasena a criminal and a mutilator of women." | Ms Johnson said: "Female genital mutilation is not going to be stopped in this country by labelling Dr Dharmasena a criminal and a mutilator of women." |
Her words were echoed by Edmund Vickers, representing Mr Mohamed. | Her words were echoed by Edmund Vickers, representing Mr Mohamed. |
He said: "The irony may not be lost on you that the purpose of the Female Genital Mutilation Act is to protect victims of female genital mutilation. | He said: "The irony may not be lost on you that the purpose of the Female Genital Mutilation Act is to protect victims of female genital mutilation. |
"And yet this first prosecution has brought a victim of female genital mutilation into the full glare of a public trial." | "And yet this first prosecution has brought a victim of female genital mutilation into the full glare of a public trial." |
Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions said it was right the case was put before a court. | Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions said it was right the case was put before a court. |
She said: "On three separate occasions, the judge dismissed applications by the defence to stop the case, thereby agreeing that the evidence should be considered by a jury." | She said: "On three separate occasions, the judge dismissed applications by the defence to stop the case, thereby agreeing that the evidence should be considered by a jury." |
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists welcomed the verdict. | The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists welcomed the verdict. |
A spokeswoman said the case highlighted "complex issues" and "the resource implications for NHS services, including early identification and referral, better record-keeping and information-sharing between healthcare professionals". | A spokeswoman said the case highlighted "complex issues" and "the resource implications for NHS services, including early identification and referral, better record-keeping and information-sharing between healthcare professionals". |
Mary Wandia from anti-FGM charity Equality Now, called the trial "an enormous step forward and a watershed moment for women and girls affected by FGM". | |
She said: "It not only communicates that FGM is against the law, but that the law will be fully implemented." | She said: "It not only communicates that FGM is against the law, but that the law will be fully implemented." |