Tony Dixon tribunal verdict: A mixed bag for patients

Medical negligence solicitor and mesh claim expert, Caroline Webber-Brown, reports on the outcome of the Tony Dixon tribunal.

On 18 July 2024, a significant decision was made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) that has left many patients with mixed feelings. The tribunal made a determination on sanction in Mr Dixon’s fitness to practice tribunal, following its earlier determination that Tony Dixon’s fitness to practice was impaired due to misconduct.

The outcome was a 6-month suspension for Mr Dixon, with a direct review scheduled before the end of the suspension period. This review aims to ensure that Mr Dixon has fully remediated his misconduct, developed his insight, and poses no risk of repeating his misconduct.

The tribunal’s decision was based on several breaches of the General Medical Practice (GMP), including the failure to obtain informed consent, the failure to discuss the risks of the proposed procedures, and that Mr Dixon carried out procedures which patients were not expecting or had consented to.

While the tribunal determined that Mr Dixon’s actions warranted a suspension, they were not deemed sufficient for erasure from the Register. The tribunal was of the view that, “Mr Dixon did consider that he was acting in his patient’s best interests and had never deliberately or recklessly sought to do anything other than achieve the best outcome with his surgery.”

For the hundreds of patients whose care was reviewed by both North Bristol NHS Trust and Spire Hospital Bristol, the decision undoubtedly resulted in mixed feelings. From discussions with our current and former clients, there is a sense of relief that the tribunal has concluded its determination after what has been a very long process and that Mr Dixon has been suspended. However, the majority felt that this outcome did not reflect the harm they had suffered or recognise their lifelong injuries.

Those patients, some of whom have already successfully concluded civil claims, could be forgiven for feeling that justice has not been provided, especially when the Tribunal considered “that a longer period of suspension would be unduly punitive” for Mr Dixon.

Caroline Webber-Brown, a solicitor who represents a number of Mr Dixon’s injured patients, was quoted as saying: 

“As the legal representative of those injured, I must express my concern over the tribunal process. The continued delays and the strict limitation on the number of patients considered have added to the trauma of my clients. It feels as though the full strength of patients who have come to harm was not adequately represented.

Having witnessed first-hand the harm sustained by my clients, who underwent surgeries that were either not clinically indicated or not consented to, I share their mixed feelings about what seems to be a lenient sanction.

I mean no disrespect to the tribunal, as its determination was based on the patients and evidence before it. However, I am left with a feeling of unease. The process of limiting the evidence to such an extent, in my view, failed to fully illustrate the extent of the number of patients harmed at both the hospitals from which Mr Dixon was dismissed.”

The remainder of his harmed patients who are still pursuing their claims look to Mr Tony Dixon and his representatives to bring a speedy conclusion to those claims, to allow them to move forward as best they can. Caroline Webber-Brown and her team remain ready to support these patients in their pursuit of justice.

Contact our specialist team today. Call us on 0333 888 0404 or send an email to [email protected]

Picture of Caroline Webber-Brown

Caroline Webber-Brown

Caroline Webber-Brown is an experienced solicitor specialising in clinical negligence. She has a strong focus in cases involving catastrophic injuries for both children and adults and has a special interest in gynaecological and cosmetic surgery claims.
Picture of Caroline Webber-Brown

Caroline Webber-Brown

Caroline Webber-Brown is an experienced solicitor specialising in clinical negligence. She has a strong focus in cases involving catastrophic injuries for both children and adults and has a special interest in gynaecological and cosmetic surgery claims.

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