Manslaughter charge against surgeon dropped

Manslaughter charges made against a senior surgeon following the death of a patient, have been dropped.

The victim, hospital porter Alan Dunn, stabbed himself in the chest on 10 December 2005 and later died in Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Senior surgeon John Stephen, 62, was charged in early September in connection with Mr Dunn’s death.

Mr Stephen appeared in court on 8 September 2006 and was granted unconditional ball.

A police spokeman said:

“Since that court appearance a conference involving a senior barrister, in this case a Queen’s Counsel, along with leading lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service, police officers and a Home Office pathologist has been held.

“The outcome of the conference was a decision that the charge of manslaughter against Mr Stephen should be withdrawn.”