In February 2010 Consultant Colorectal Surgeon David Sellu operated on a patient with a perforated bowel. Despite David’s efforts, the patient died two days later.
David was devastated at the death of his patient.

‪There followed a sequence of extraordinary events that led to David being tried at the Old Bailey and convicted of Gross Negligence Manslaughter. He has served 15 months in prison and is currently out on licence until the remainder of the two-and-a-half year sentence has expired.

Friends and colleagues up and down the country, as well as David’s former patients, are appalled at what has happened and the bizarre chain of events which led to a situation turning into a criminal case. This sad case was complex and multifactorial and it is extraordinarily unjust that one individual, the surgeon, was singled out to take blame for the whole chain of events, over much of which he had no control whatsoever.

We feel David was made a scapegoat. We have launched an appeal and the process is still ongoing; we are waiting for an oral hearing. We feel the conviction was unjust and should be overturned.