Four medics have appeared in court jointly charged with manslaughter.

Dr Katherine Mary Teare, aged 42, of Clenagh Road, Sulby, Dr Miklos Janos Palotas, aged 48, of Mwyllin Doo ahh, Braddan, Dr Alison Jayne Hool, aged 43, of Jacks Lane, Ramsey, and Dr Sheila Elizabeth Clarke, aged 53, of Poacher’s Pocket, Ballasalla, are yet to enter pleas to the charge.

One is an anaesthetist and three are consultant anaesthetists, employed by Manx Care.

The charges follow the death of a patient at the hospital on February 4 last year.

James Joseph Shimmin, a 55-year-old man from Douglas, died having undergone a routine operation.

The manslaughter charges can only be heard at the Court of General Gaol Delivery.

Defence advocate Jim Travers, representing Dr Clarke, said that it was a ‘fundamentally flawed prosecution’ and committal was to be challenged.

Dr Teare was represented by Winston Taylor, Dr Palotas by Peter Russell, and Dr Hool by Michael Mudge.

All the three advocates also said that they wished to challenge the committal.

All four advocates said that their clients would be appointing a Queen’s Counsel (QC) as lead counsel going forward.

A committal challenge hearing will be held on April 27.

Bail was granted for all four parties in the sum of £500 with a condition to reside at their home address.