Left in agony after operation

Jun 11 2004
icSolihull, UK
© Trinity Mirror Plc

A PREGNANT mum twice attempted to commit suicide after an operation at Solihull Hospital left her in agony with gaping wounds and rotting skin.

Fareen Hussain, 22, of Old Hall Gardens, Monkspath, was diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, an inflammation of the sweat glands which causes painful abscesses to form under the skin.

To combat the problem, her consultant, Dr Misra Budhoo, operated to remove the cysts, but Fareen's husband, Anzil, said large amounts of excess skin was left under her arms, with shocking results. "It was grotesque," he said. "The skin under her arms looked like had rotted, you didn't have to be an expert to see it should be removed."

Like every patient, Fareen gave her informed consent prior to any form of treatment, but the couple feel they were not sufficiently warned about the risks of the treatment.

She underwent a second operation to cut away the rotten skin, but has been left with two-and-a-half inch square wounds under her arms, is unable to raise them and has been told her skin may never fully recover.

Anzil, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Central England said: "If we had known it was going to take so long to heal we wouldn't have gone through with this. "We were told it would be slow healing, but we weren't told it would take a minimum of 12 months. "In terms of her mobility, Fareen can't do much and the distress and pain she has been put through is absolutely unbelievable, she has tried to commit suicide twice," he added.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust said: "The trust aims to give every patient the best possible treatment and care. "Unfortunately on this occasion Mr Hussain has raised a number of concerns with regards to the treatment of his wife and as with all issues raised we are carrying out a full investigation.

"Whilst the investigation is taking place we are continuing to provide every opportunity for Mr Hussain and his wife to discuss their issues with all of the clinicians and senior management concerned. "This investigation is still ongoing and under patient confidentially we are unable to comment on the specifics of this patient's care."