A DOCTOR ignored a 'life or death’ situation when he failed to urgently deliver a dying baby, according to a top obstetrician.

Dr Chandrasiri Abayasiriwardena had just minutes to act when a 32-week pregnant mother was admitted to Wexham Park Hospital after a car crash.

The experienced grade doctor knew the unborn baby had a slow heart rate and failed to arrange an emergency caesarean section for the 21-year-old woman, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard.

Instead he left a midwife to monitor the situation and the emergency caesarean section was not performed for over an hour, the hearing was told.

Dr Michael Maresh, a consultant at Manchester’s St Mary’s Hospital, said that by this stage the baby was likely to die or be born with severe brain damage.

The child, known only as Baby B, had to be resuscitated after he was eventually delivered, but died two weeks later on November 24, 2008.

Dr Maresh told a Fitness to Practise panel on Tuesday he found Dr Abayasiriwardena’s actions 'absolutely unbelievable’.

The tribunal has heard the mum was brought by ambulance to the hospital on November 10, 2008. She had tenderness in the abdominal area and was in shock.

Dr Abayasiriwardena took over her care at around 5pm and CTG and ultrasound scans began to show 'extremely worrying features’ at about 6.15pm, the panel heard.

Dr Maresh explained there is a 'rule of thumb’ to deal with foetal bradycardia.

He said: “At six minutes one must be thinking about delivering by caesarean section and by nine minutes one should rapidly be getting on with things. It appears he completely ignored a foetal bradycardia.” Instead of acting, the Sri Lankan medic left the room before returning 15 minutes later and phoning a consultant at 6.30pm. The consultant told him to proceed with a caesarean section if he could not get a good heartbeat on the CTG. But it was a midwife who eventually took control of the 'critical situation’ and the procedure took place at 7.25pm, the tribunal was told.

A coroner recorded a narrative verdict, but Dr Abayasiriwardena is accused of professional misconduct.

The Sri-Lankan medic is not present or represented at the hearing in Manchester, but has told the General Medical Council he no longer wants to work as a doctor.

He could face being struck off the medical register if the allegations are found proved. The hearing continues.