I write about the struck-off surgeon, Henk Giele (Oxford Mail, March 22). I know a boy who, at barely 12 months old, would have lost the use of an arm had it not been for his brilliance.

I witnessed, over the following months, the progress and recovery that this child had made since Mr Giele's miraculous operation.

The charges against Mr Giele are not criminal. They were no more than breaking the moral code of the medical profession. There comes a time when, in cases like this, commonsense should prevail.

Mr Giele received the same punishment as those who were responsible for the dreadful deaths from heart operations at Bristol last year. How can anyone with a pennyworth of commonsense compare the two?

I hope that Mr Giele wins his appeal and that those who have the authority will 'strike off' those who were his judge and jury. We can do without them, but we cannot do without the brilliance of Mr Giele.

BILL HUNWICK, The Avenue, Kennington