A surgeon involved in the Bristol heart babies scandal, who claimed he was sacked unfairly, has lost his appeal.

Janardan Dhasmana was dismissed in September 1998 over high death rates among children undergoing heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1988 and 1995.

The 60-year-old was dismissed by United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT), after being found guilty of 'serious professional misconduct' by the General Medical Council.

Mr Dhasmana claimed he had been made a scapegoat by the trust and brought a case for unfair dismissal and breach of contract to an employment tribunal in Bristol.

'Lurid publicity'

At the tribunal earlier this month he argued the trust had been caught up in the adverse media publicity surrounding the affair and had failed to consider his case objectively.

But on Tuesday sources close to the case said Mr Dhasmana's claims had been dismissed by the tribunal panel.

A spokeswoman for UBHT said the trust would make no official comment on the outcome of the tribunal.

During the three-day tribunal earlier this month, UBHT's chief executive Hugh Ross said Mr Dhasmana had been sacked because he had lost the "trust and confidence of his colleagues".

But Mr Dhasmana claimed the opinions of staff at the BRI were coloured by the "lurid publicity" surrounding the affair and said he had been treated "disgracefully".

Mr Dhasmana was banned from operating on children for three years by the GMC in June 1998 for his part in the heart babies scandal.

Two other doctors involved - James Wisheart and John Roylance - were struck off.