Michigan doctor charged with carrying out female genital mutilation

A doctor in Michigan has been charged with carrying out female genital mutilation on young girls, in what is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind in the US.

Jumana Nagarwala, an emergency room physician in Detroit, is accused of performing the procedure on girls aged between six and eight and then lying to investigators when confronted.

Nagarwala, 44, faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted of all the charges against her. She was scheduled to appear in federal court in Detroit on Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors alleged in a complaint filed to court that Nagarwala had been carrying out female genital mutilation procedures for the past 12 years from a medical office in the Detroit suburb of Livonia.

Jumana Nagarwala. Photograph: Handout

Justice department officials said on Thursday that the charges were believed to be the first ever brought under a US law against female genital mutilation that was passed in 1996 and amended in 2013.

“Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls. It is also a serious federal felony in the United States,” acting US attorney Daniel Lemisch said in a statement. “The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law.”

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s investigations division (HSI) acted after receiving a tip-off that Nagarwala was performing FGM, according to the court filing. Nagarwala is charged with female genital mutilation, transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and lying to a federal agent.

Investigators interviewed and examined two seven-year-old girls from Minnesota who appeared to have undergone FGM by Nagarwala in February this year. Telephone records, hotel bills and surveillance video are said to show that the girls traveled to Michigan with their mothers.

One of the girls said that she had been told she was going to see a doctor “to get the germs out” of her. She said Nagarwala had “pinched” her genitals and that she was given a pad to place in her underwear.

The second girl said she had screamed in pain after the procedure, and that afterwards “she could barely walk, and that she felt pain all the way down to her ankle”. A glove belonging to the second girl was later found in the clinic. Her parents told investigators they had taken the girl to see Nagarwala in Michigan for a “cleansing”.

Both girls identified Nagarwala from a photograph as the doctor they had seen and said that they were warned not to discuss the procedure, according to the complaint. Two other parents confirmed to investigators that Nagawala performed procedures on their daughter’s genitals, according to the complaint.

Yet in an interview on Monday this week with an agent from the HSI, Nagarwala allegedly said that she had never performed FGM on children and knew that it was illegal in the US.

David Gelios, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office, said in a statement that US authorities would do whatever necessary “to bring an end to this barbaric practice”.

Jaha Dukureh, an Atlanta-based FGM survivor and leading campaigner against the practice, welcomed the prosecution, saying that it “sets an example” and reminds the public of an ongoing problem.

“We don’t want to have to prosecute – we want to prevent,” Dukureh said. “This shouldn’t be happening. Not in the US, not anywhere.”

Michigan doctor charged with carrying out female genital mutilation

Anti-abortion activists charged over undercover Planned Parenthood videos

California prosecutors have charged two anti-abortion activists who made undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood with 15 felonies, saying they invaded the privacy of medical providers by filming without consent.

State attorney general Xavier Becerra announced the charges on Tuesday against David Daleiden of Davis, California, and Sandra Merritt of San Jose. The two operate the Irvine-based Center for Medical Progress.

The allegations say the pair filmed 14 people without permission between October 2013 and July 2015 in Los Angeles, San Francisco and El Dorado counties. One felony count was filed for each person. The 15th was for criminal conspiracy to invade privacy.

Becerra says they used a fictitious bioresearch company to meet with women’s healthcare providers and covertly record them.

Daleiden, in an email to the Associated Press, said the “bogus” charges were coming from “Planned Parenthood’s political cronies”.

“The public knows the real criminals are Planned Parenthood and their business partners,” Daleiden said.

Planned Parenthood – which has previously said the videos were “heavily edited to deceive the public” – welcomed the charges, saying they sent “a clear message: you can’t target women and healthcare providers without consequences”.

Planned Parenthood (@PPact)

CA Attorney General filing criminal charges sends a clear message — you can’t target women & health care providers without consequences. https://t.co/dFT42uZUyq

March 29, 2017

In April of last year, Daleiden said in a Facebook post that California department of justice agents had raided his home, seizing all of his video footage along with personal information.

Since then, the case had gone largely quiet, with virtually no revelations about the investigation and no indication that the charges were coming before they were filed on Tuesday in San Francisco superior court.

The prosecution got a new leader this year in Becerra, a longtime Congressional Democrat, who took over for Kamala Harris when she became a US senator.

Daleiden and Merritt had previously been indicted in Texas on similar charges in January 2016, but all of the charges were eventually dropped by July as prosecutors said a grand jury had overstepped its authority. The grand jury had originally been convened to investigate Planned Parenthood, but after finding no wrongdoing indicted Daleiden and Merritt instead.

Anti-abortion activists charged over undercover Planned Parenthood videos

Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey charged over "concealing temperature"

Pauline Cafferkey, the nurse who nearly died after contracting Ebola as a volunteer in west Africa, has been charged by a regulatory body with concealing her high temperature when she returned to the UK.

Cafferkey, hailed as a hero for her work in the Ebola treatment units of Sierra Leone, could be struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council if the charges are proved against her.

The NMC alleged that the Scottish nurse “allowed an incorrect temperature to be recorded” on 29 December 2014 and “intended to conceal from Public Health England staff that you had a temperature higher than 38C”.

Archive: Ebola survivor Pauline Cafferkey: I feared I’d die a horrible death

A high temperature is one of the first symptoms of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. NHS workers who returned from volunteering were all supposed to fill in questionnaires about their exposure to the virus in their patients and have their temperatures taken by PHE staff at Heathrow airport.

It is the first time the NMC has outlined its complaint against Cafferkey. The NMC has been investigating her and others who returned at the same time for well over a year. During this time, Cafferkey had told friends, she had felt as if her career was on hold.

The hearing is expected to be held in Edinburgh next month.

Cafferkey nearly died twice – the first time after being diagnosed in Scotland. She was flown to London to be treated in a special tented Ebola isolation unit at the Royal Free hospital.

Last October she developed meningitis as a result of the Ebola virus and had to be transferred to the Royal Free once more. Her condition became critical but she pulled through.

Cafferkey returned from Sierra Leone in December 2014 with a large contingent of NHS volunteers who had completed their tour of duty, as well as other people who had been working in west Africa. PHE had nurses at the airport to take the temperatures of the travellers, but, the Guardian has been told, not enough were stationed there.

One of the volunteers who returned at the same time as Cafferkey said they were encouraged by PHE staff to take one another’s temperatures and complete the forms.

Cafferkey’s temperature was high, so PHE’s staff were alerted, said the volunteer, who wanted to remain anonymous. Her temperature was taken six more times, but eventually, the volunteer said, Cafferkey was told she could board her flight to Glasgow.

With a high temperature, the protocol meant the nurse should have been transferred to a designated hospital nearby, Northwick Park, and seen by an infectious diseases consultant.

“PHE was unprepared and did not follow correct procedure in managing the screening process,” the volunteer told the Guardian. “Had Pauline been sent to Northwick Park hospital straight from Heathrow, her diagnosis and medical management would have commenced much earlier … Instead, as policy was not followed, this was delayed and she was allowed by PHE staff to fly to Glasgow, travel onwards to her home and potentially put the general public at risk.”

Many of those who travelled to west Africa to help with the Ebola outbreak were astonished that Cafferkey was facing charges from her regulatory body.

The volunteer was “incredulous” that Cafferkey and others who risked so much to help people in Sierra Leone “still have this hanging over their head”, adding that Cafferkey did nothing that was not approved by PHE.

“I cannot get my head round why one group of medical professionals – PHE – demand such an investigation over another vulnerable group of medical professionals when they themselves had so many failings,” the volunteer said in a written statement given to the Guardian.

An NMC spokesperson said: “Since these proceedings began the NMC has worked closely with Ms Cafferkey and her representatives to reach an outcome that is fair and meets the public interest in this case.

“Since the NMC’s case examiners considered the allegations and drafted charges, we have received further evidence. The final charges the panel will consider will be determined in light of this new material. Ms Cafferkey and her representatives have cooperated fully throughout this process.”

David Cameron announced in February 2015 that the NHS staff who had volunteered to work with Ebola in west Africa would be awarded a special medal. “We owe them an immense debt of gratitude,” the then prime minister told parliament.

Cafferkey and others did not accept the medal because they felt it was inappropriate in the light of the investigation.

Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey charged over "concealing temperature"

3 nurses charged with wilful neglect

South Wales Police confirmed Lauro Bertulano, 44, Clare Cahill, 41 and Rebecca Jones, 29, have been charged on suspicion of falsifying patients’ notes at the Princess of Wales Hospital, contrary to Area 44 of the Mental Capability Act 2005.

A complete of 13 nurses have given that been suspended, such as the 3 who have been charged.

A dozen of those are from the Princess of Wales Hospital, with the remaining one particular from nearby Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The hospital spokesman said: “Over the last 15 months 3 nurses have been arrested and provided police bail in connection with police investigations at the Princess of Wales Hospital. We are mindful that the three have now been charged.

“Clearly this matter is now sub-judice and therefore we will not be commenting even more at this stage. We continue to assist South Wales Police with their investigations.”

A police spokesman said the three nurses are scheduled to seem prior to Bridgend Magistrates’ Court on July 28.

The hospital had previously confirmed that its internal programs picked up alleged anomalies final 12 months relating to the record-retaining of a modest variety of nurses.

A complete of 13 nurses have given that been suspended, which includes the three who have been charged.

A dozen of individuals are from the Princess of Wales Hospital, with the remaining 1 from nearby Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The hospital spokesman explained: “In excess of the final 15 months 3 nurses have been arrested and provided police bail in connection with police investigations at the Princess of Wales Hospital. We are aware that the 3 have now been charged.

“Plainly this matter is now sub-judice and for that reason we will not be commenting further at this stage. We proceed to help South Wales Police with their investigations.”

A police spokesman stated the 3 nurses are scheduled to seem before Bridgend Magistrates’ Court on July 28.

3 nurses charged with wilful neglect

Patients ought to be charged £10 to see GP

Mr McGovern, a nurse of 12 years, explained fees could suggest that patients visited GPs significantly less with small signs and symptoms, and “self-managed” symptoms at property.

Last night he stated: “We require to have a robust and sincere debate about what we’re going to do as the money just is not there. We want to get people speaking about how they spend for NHS providers going forward.”

The nurse mentioned study advised that fees could stop needless appointments and individuals failing to turn up for appointments.

He said: “The study suggests there are advantages, 1 of them is stopping time-wasting.

“The BMA reported that one GP had 14 ‘do not attends’ in one morning.”

The nurse mentioned he did not feel this kind of charges have been “the only response” but that they ought to be the start off of a debate.

Final evening Peter Carter, the head of the RCN, mentioned he welcomed the debate, but had private reservations about charging any patient for NHS care.

Such a move would be “a dramatic departure” from the union’s existing policies, he said.

“GP charging is a controversial topic and 1 that goes to the heart of the debate about what the NHS is and should be. It’s a brave debate to have and an crucial a single.”

Dr Carter urged politicians to have “sincere and crucial discussions” about long term NHS funding, and referred to as for a significant boost in funding right after the election.

A Department of Well being spokesman mentioned: “We are definitely clear that the NHS must be totally free at the level of use, and we will not charge for GP appointments.

“We know GPs are under strain, which is why we’re cutting GP targets by a lot more than a third to free up far more time with patients, and are escalating trainees so that GP numbers carry on to increase more rapidly than the population.”

Patients ought to be charged £10 to see GP

FGM: 1st suspects to be charged seem in court

Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, one particular of two suspects charged with carrying out FGM on a female after she had offered birth. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Photos

Two males have appeared in court for the first female genital mutilation (FGM) prosecution in the Uk. Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, 31, from Whittington hospital, north London, and Hasan Mohamed, forty, who is not a medical specialist, face the 1st charges brought below the Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003) in the landmark situation.

Dharmasena is accused of carrying out the procedure on a female after she had provided birth in November 2012. It is alleged that he repaired the FGM that had previously been carried out on the patient, after being encouraged and aided by Mohamed.

Lawyers defending both guys told Westminster magistrates court that the pair would plead not guilty. Dharmasena, wearing a grey suit, spoke only to confirm his name and deal with. Mohamed, sporting a grey hooded best and a scarf close to his neck, gave his name. His address was not read out in court. Both guys were granted unconditional bail and are next due to appear at Southwark crown court on two May possibly.

Carrying out FGM has been a criminal offence in the United kingdom since 1985, but there has but to be a prosecution. In a pre-trial statement, the director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders explained: “It was alleged that following a patient providing birth in November 2012, a medical professional at the Whittington hospital in London, repaired FGM that had previously been carried out on the patient, allegedly carrying out FGM himself.”

FGM has come beneath the spotlight in recent months right after activists stepped up their campaign against it. Earlier this month education secretary Michael Gove wrote to all headteachers after a Guardian-backed petition, which known as for education to be put at the heart of tackling the practice, attracted far more than 230,000 signatures. Gove sent a letter to all headteachers in England alerting them to guidelines made to maintain young children risk-free, which includes advice on FGM.

A Department for Schooling spokeswoman said Gove would keep up stress on colleges by flagging up the dangers of FGM once more in his yearly “back to college” letter in September.

The Guardian-backed campaign, led by 17-12 months-old Brighton schoolgirl Fahma Mohamed, was supported by the UN secretary basic, Ban Ki-moon, and Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, as well as signatories from about the globe.

FGM is believed to influence up to 140 million girls throughout the world and an estimated 66,000 girls in the United kingdom, with up to 24,000 ladies below 15 believed to be at threat.

FGM: 1st suspects to be charged seem in court

Stepping Hill nurse charged with 3 "saline deaths" murders

Police are carrying out an investigation into the contamination of different medical products among June 1 and July 15, 2011 at the hospital.

Eight sufferers who had been poisoned by contaminated products later on died.

They had been Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, Derek Weaver, 83, William Dickson, 82, Linda McDonagh, 60, John Beeley, 73, Beryl Hope, 70, and Mary Cartwright, 89.

Chua is charged with murder above the deaths of Ms Arden, Mr Lancaster and Mr Weaver.

The father-of-two, from Stockport, was very first arrested in January 2012 and later released on bail.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: “Our thoughts continue to be with these folks who had been deliberately poisoned and their families.

“From day one we created a dedication to individuals people, as nicely as the wider neighborhood, to completely and robustly investigate what occurred.

“In shut to three many years we have carried out many painstaking inquiries and engaged with quite a few healthcare specialists.

“We are now at a level exactly where we have charged Victorino Chua with a quantity of quite critical offences.”

Stepping Hill nurse charged with 3 "saline deaths" murders

Tourists and migrants to be charged to use NHS emergency services

A Division of Health report estimated up to £500m a year could be recovered through much better charging for use of the NHS. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Overseas guests and migrants are to be charged for making use of NHS accident and emergency providers in England underneath measures announced by the government to deter so-called health tourism.

No 1 will be turned away from an A&ampE department in an emergency, but there will be a bill to pay out afterwards for individuals from overseas. Other alterations include extending charging for prescriptions to men and women from overseas, and requiring them to pay larger charges for providers that are subsidised for individuals entitled to NHS care, such as optical and dental companies.

GP and nurse consultations will continue to be totally free, which the government believes will minimize hazards to public well being such as HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections.

Details of the scheme, which has been drawn up following a government consultation, are still getting worked out. Ministers have said they will publish a total implementation strategy in March.

Additional alterations could contain overseas visitors currently being charged for small surgical treatment that is carried out by a GP and physiotherapy that has come by means of a GP referral.

Wellness minister Lord Howe said: “Having a universal wellness service free at the level of use rightly tends to make us the envy of the globe, but we must make certain the program is honest to the hardworking British taxpayers who fund it.

“We know that we need to have to make adjustments across the NHS to much better determine and charge guests and migrants. Introducing charging at principal care is the 1st step to attaining this. We are already looking at taking action, and subsequent year we will set out our thorough strategies to clamp down on the abuse of our NHS.”

A Department of Well being report this year estimated that up to £500m a yr could be recovered by means of greater charging for use of the NHS by site visitors. However, it explained estimates had been based mostly on “incomplete information, sometimes of various high quality, and a huge number of assumptions”.

There is currently concern amongst a lot of Tory MPs that the ending of restrictions on migrants from Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January will see an influx of migrants, putting further strain on the NHS and other public providers.

The shadow overall health minister Lord Hunt stated: “But again, ministers are placing spin just before substance – their personal report undermines the attempts to grab much more headlines with this re-announcement.

“Labour is in favour of enhancing the recovery of charges from individuals with no entitlement to NHS remedy. Rather than a lot more grandstanding, the government demands to provide sensible, considered-by means of alterations to make that occur. Alternatively this out-of-touch government is left asking medical doctors and nurses to act as surrogate immigration officials.”

At current treatment in hospital A&ampE departments is cost-free, but any subsequent remedy as a consequence of admission is chargeable. The changes are aimed at tightening and standardising what is and is not chargeable for main healthcare.

The principles presently state that even though maternity or antenatal providers need to not be withheld, overseas guests should be charged. Asked for the duration of the consultation whether or not maternity care ought to be exempt, the mind-boggling response from NHS frontline personnel was that it ought to not be free for everyone, the Division of Overall health stated.

Doctors’ leaders explained the proposed modifications could price a lot more to administer than they would raise for the NHS and could deter men and women in want of remedy from in search of care.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of the British Health care Association (BMA) council, said: “This could suggest the technique of administering the new charging system will finish up really costing more to run than it collects in income. There stays a genuine threat that some migrants and short-term site visitors who desperately need care could be discouraged from approaching the NHS if they can’t pay out the proposed fees.

“There is certain confusion above entry entitlements to emergency care services, given that the proposals introduce charging for A&ampE visits, yet say that no patient will be turned away if they require care.”

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA’s GP committee said: “It is encouraging that the government has listened to the public health issues expressed by the BMA about the affect of charging migrants and brief-term guests for GP appointments. We can’t have a predicament the place any patient with a severe well being require is deterred from going to a GP, particularly if their condition raises a prospective public wellness risk.”

He added the proposals could introduce “one more layer of time-consuming bureaucracy to general practice at a time when GPs and their workers are struggling to cope with rising workload and patient demand”.

Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, a Birmingham GP and spokesperson for the Royal School of General Practitioners, stated: “We are grateful that the government seems to have made some concessions to its authentic proposals and we are pleased that accessibility to a GP will remain free at the level of require.

“Even so, we nevertheless require reassurances that GPs are not going to be pressed into acting as an arm of the Border Agency and we continue to be unconvinced that the proposals will perform across the NHS.”

Tourists and migrants to be charged to use NHS emergency services