The Dutch government's Health Inspectorate wants a surgeon in the city of Emmen to be scrapped from the medical register after five of his patients died. If the surgeon fails to resign of his own accord, the inspectorate will take legal action.

The surgeon at Emmen's Scheper hospital was suspended in March and fired this week. Five of his patients died from complications after undergoing stomach reduction surgery.

When the cases were investigated, it turned out that the surgeon had failed to meet basic professional standards. He took too many risks and did not inform his patients about possible dangers.

The inspectorate also criticised the hospital, saying its internal communications and record-keeping were below par. The Scheper hospital will no longer be allowed to perform stomach reduction surgery.

Stomach bypass surgery (Graphics: affordablebariatrics.com)