Doctor lied over home visit

ASHAMED . . . Dr Jason Tahghighi leaving the inquest after admitting he lied about a house visit

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A GRIEVING family yesterday discovered a doctor lied to his bosses about visiting their home to see their sick baby, who later died of meningitis.

The inquest for five month old Leo Radcliffe heard Jason Tahghighi, who claimed to be “under considerable stress”, told his superiors he visited the family home in Chadderton but didn’t knock because it was in darkness.

The “thoroughly ashamed” GP, based in Bramhall, was working a night shift for private firm Go To Doc when he was asked to visit baby Leo who had a high fever.

The call Dr Tahghighi received was marked as “non-urgent” - meaning a house visit should be made within six hours.

In fact he didn’t go to the house at all and left two voicemails with Leo’s mother, Katie - one, at 2.35am, suggesting the service was very busy and suggesting the visit might wait until morning.

This was followed by a call at 3.10am in which the doctor said he assumed the baby had “settled down”.

The Manchester inquest heard the doctor then moved to a different call with his driver, assuming Leo was fine.

Dr Tahghighi was later asked by Go To Doc to explain the night’s events. In a statement he said he went to the house, which was in darkness. The GP, who has been suspended by the General Medical Council and has resigned from Go To Doc, told the inquest he had been working “excessive hours” that week.

He said he was ashamed of his actions and not in a correct state of mind.

Leo was taken to hospital at around 4am but died later that day.

The inquest continues.