Heart surgeon James Wisheart's lawyer began his defence against accusations of serious professional misconduct at the General Medical Council on Monday.

He has already been found guilty of several charges, including failing to stop performing surgery despite an exceptionally high death rate and failing to stop operations by his assistant, Dr Janardan Dhasmana.

Dr Dhasmana and Dr John Roylance, Mr Wisheart's manager, also face accusations of serious professional misconduct over the deaths of 29 babies after heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1990 and 1995.

Decision

The GMC is meeting this week to decide what action to take against the three doctors. They could be struck off.

James Wisheart

Duncan Matheson, Mr Wisheart's lawyer, said the 60-year-old surgeon, who has now retired, should not have to take all the blame for what happened. Mr Wisheart denies the charges against him.

His lawyer said: "These were errors rather than deliberate or conscious misconduct. He accepts his own responsibilities as a doctor and as a surgeon, but he does not acknowledge that he must shoulder the blame or criticism for what occurred. The surgeon is only one of a team."

Transfer

However, the GMC's barrister, Roger Henderson, said it was not enough for the doctors to say they were part of a team.

"If a surgeon accepts a patient, the responsibility lies with him or her. He can say 'No, I will not perform this operation' and have the patient transferred elsewhere," he said.

Mr Matheson described Mr Wisheart as "in so many respects the epitome of what a conscientious and caring doctor should be". He said he was "somebody who spends too long, working too hard, looking after his patients".

Pig operation

Senior doctors from Bristol also spoke in his defence and a former patient, Susan Gale, told of how the surgeon saved her life 22 years ago by inserting a pig's heart valve in her own heart - the first operation of its kind.

Ms Gale had invited Mr Wisheart to a party last year to celebrate her 21st year since the operation.

Dr Dhasmana and Dr Roylance begin their defence tomorrow.