'I get nightmares of him': Former patient of surgeon who harmed nearly 100 children tells BBC

The medical community and the public are grappling with the disturbing revelations surrounding Yaser Jabbar, a former orthopedic surgeon at the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London. Among the nearly 100 children identified as victims of medical malpractice, 12-year-old Vivaan Sharma has shared a harrowing account of his experience. Speaking with the BBC, the young boy described a lasting psychological burden, admitting that he is still plagued by recurring nightmares featuring the surgeon. His testimony provides a human face to a systemic failure that has left dozens of families devastated by physical and emotional trauma. An independent review commissioned by the hospital trust uncovered a catastrophic pattern of clinical negligence. The investigation scrutinized hundreds of cases, ultimately determining that 94 children suffered harm under Jabbar’s care. The injuries reported are severe and life-altering, including permanent mobility impairments and significant leg-length discrepancies. The review characterized Jabbar’s professional conduct as being marked by poor decision-making and a lack of necessary technical skill, raising urgent questions about how his practice was allowed to continue for years without effective intervention from hospital leadership. For Vivaan and his family, the path to recovery is both long and uncertain. The damage caused by the initial surgeries has necessitated complex corrective procedures and extensive physical rehabilitation. However, the family emphasizes that the damage extends beyond the operating table; they have expressed a profound loss of trust in the healthcare system. The case has ignited a national debate regarding the adequacy of clinical governance and the effectiveness of peer review processes in high-stakes pediatric environments. As legal proceedings and further oversight investigations gain momentum, the fallout from the Yaser Jabbar scandal is forcing a reckoning at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The institution, once seen as a global gold standard for pediatric care, now faces intense pressure to explain the oversight failures that allowed so many patients to be harmed. This case underscores the critical necessity for transparency, accountability, and the prioritization of patient safety over institutional reputation.