Widow of businessman to pursue GMC investigation

A top Shropshire professor "significantly" modified equipment in a low risk knee operation in which a West Midlands businessman died, an inquest heard.

Luigi Belcuore, 43, of Morton Bagot, near Studley, Warwickshire, died during a clinical trial on October 20, 2009, at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, in Oswestry.

His family are now pursuing a full investigation from the General Medical Council — which has the power to strike-off physicians — and will be filing a damages claim against the hospital trust.

Bosses at the trust today said they had already taken action after an internal investigation but would consider the jury's conclusions carefully taking further action if necessary.

A jury yesterday ruled that Mr Belcuore died from an air embolism — a condition in which air enters the blood stream — caused by arthroscopic surgery.

The four-day trial at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court ended with a narrative verdict after it was revealed Professor James Richardson, who did the operation, modified equipment without approval.

The verdict recorded that the surgical equipment used in the procedure was modified in a significant way which was outside the intended use of the product.

Approval should also have been sought from the Medical Device Committee for the modification which contributed to the death of Mr Belcuore with additional factors of an unusually deep pseudo cyst.

Mr Belcuore's wife, Penelope, today said: "He was the keystone of the family and to his friends. He was the sort of husband every woman would want to have.

"We are now perusing two avenues with a civil claim against the trust and we are going to call for a GMC investigation."

Mr John Ellery, coroner for Mid and North Shropshire said he will be alerting all appropriate authorities to the case to make them aware of the risks.

Wendy Farrington-Chadd, chief executive of the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust, said: "The trust deeply regrets the unexpected death of Mr Belcuore and would like to express our most heartfelt and sincere sympathies to Mrs Belcuore and her family and friends, for what must have been an extremely distressing and traumatic time.

"We are now considering the jury's conclusions carefully and will take any further action that may be necessary, and will be liaising with the coroner as required."