A FAMILY GP has been rebuked by her profession after failing to correctly diagnose a poorly six-year-old girl who later died of a ruptured appendix.

Megan Watts spent two days in severe pain before finally being rushed to hospital in June last year.

She died from peritonitis at Southampton General Hospital less than two hours after being admitted, despite a frantic battle to save her.

Megan was given medicine to replace lost salts in her body and to prevent her from being sick after being told she had colic.

The youngster was then sent home without a further appointment being made.

Seven months later an independent review concluded that the diagnosis of Megan's condition and the health care she received was unsatisfactory.

It also highlighted the fact that a physical examination carried out by her GP, Dr Hilary Boddington, at St Peter's Sur-gery, in Portsmouth Road, Woolston, Southampton, was inadequate.

A report by the General Medical Council's Preliminary Proceedings Committee ruled Dr Boddington hadn't "reached the threshold of serious professional misconduct".

However, it has sent a letter warning her about the standard of practice expected of her as a registered medical practitioner.

The letter to Dr Boddington said: "They acknowledge your admission that you had reached no definite diagnosis of Megan's symptoms. However, they feel that in the circumstances you should have sought a second opinion.

''On balance, the committee did not consider that this matter reached the threshold of serious professional misconduct, nevertheless they were clear that your practice was not at its best."

Megan's parents, Philip and Bernadette Watts of Cunning-ham Crescent, Sholing, South-ampton, plan to raise the letter and its contents with Health Minister John Denham, who is also the Southampton Itchen MP.

They are particularly concerned Dr Boddington's papers relating to Megan's treatment have been retained by the council and could be used if there are any similar complaints against her, but will not be made public.

Mr Watts, 40, said: "I'm pleased that there is going to be something on her record but after reading the letter I was even more annoyed. I will be speaking to John Denham about it.

"How many deaths do we have to have before a doctor can be struck off''

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