A Northern Ireland pathologist's failure to identify numerous bone fractures during a post mortem examination led to a child's body being exhumed, the General Medical Council in the UK heard yesterday.
It also left the Romanian boy's twin brother vulnerable to serious injury, the Professional Conduct Committee was told at a hearing in Manchester.
Dr Michael Curtis, assistant state pathologist for Northern Ireland, denies serious professional misconduct.
The hearing heard Dr Curtis carried out a post mortem exam after the death of Romanian David Briggs in October 2000.
David, who was 14 months old, was buried but Dr Curtis had failed to identify and explain multiple rib fractures. Just 13 days later the boy's twin was admitted to hospital with a fractured skull.
The twins had been legally adopted by former missionary Geoffrey Briggs, from Portadown. Briggs admitted punching David's brother and was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to two years in jail. The surviving child is no longer in Briggs's care.
David's body was exhumed and a further post mortem was ordered. Up to 16 fractures were discovered on his torso. There has never been any explanation for the injuries and the police investigation is continuing.
Mr Hugh Davies, acting for the General Medical Council, said: "The presence of rib fractures of this number and of this distribution strongly suggests abuse."
He added: "If Dr Curtis had carefully examined the X-rays, the fractures would have been evident to him." Dr Curtis's alleged failure led to the exhumation of David's body for a second post mortem and left his surviving brother at risk of serious injury, Mr Davies said.
The GMC hearing will inquire into allegations that Dr Curtis "failed to exercise reasonable care and competence in the conduct of a post mortem examination and produced reports which were inadequate". It is alleged that Dr Curtis's actions were "unprofessional, inappropriate, and liable to bring the medical profession into disrepute".
Mr Donald Findlay QC, defending, applied to have the case heard in private because the evidence could prejudice any future criminal proceedings brought in relation to David's death.
Mr Findlay said: "In Northern Ireland, where these events took place, there is an ongoing police inquiry relating to the death of the little boy who is the subject of these proceedings."
His application was turned down. It was decided that the hearing would proceed in public but that matters deemed to be potentially prejudicial to future proceedings would be heard in camera."- (PA)