Surgeon Appears In Summary Court For A Charge Of Manslaughter By Unlawful Admission. It Is Alleged That He Caused The Death Of Travis Ebanks During A Medical Procedure

By Alric Lindsay

Paul Anthony Taiganides, a former surgeon with the Health Services Authority, appeared in the Summary Court yesterday, August 26, 2025, in connection with an allegation of manslaughter by unlawful admission. It is alleged that after Travis Alexander Derron Ebanks was shot twice in West Bay and transported to the George Town hospital, he was treated by a medical team led by Taiganides, who allegedly incorrectly inserted a tube in Ebanks’ throat to assist with his breathing.  Allegedly, a combination of a failure to rectify the mistake and other actions led to Ebanks’ death.

During the Summary Court session on August 26, 2025, the Chief Magistrate noted that, since the charge is a Category A matter, it automatically goes to the Grand Court.  In the circumstances, Taiganides was bailed to appear in the Grand Court on August 28, 2025.

Bail conditions:

*Stop notice at the airport

*Surrender of his passport

*Live and sleep at that address given to the court

*Reporting to the George Town police station on Mondays between 10 am and 4 pm.

Detailed background

Based on documents from the authorities, Ebanks was shot on Kind Road, West Bay in the early hours of Sunday, January 21, 2024.  Based on reports, Ebanks was shot twice from behind, once in the chest and once to the neck. At the time, Ebanks was awake and conscious, talking to the emergency medical team staff.

Reportedly, initial concerns were raised regarding the insertion of the intercostal chest drain and the behaviour of Taiganides with his staff, as well as his placement of the endotracheal tube.

According to official documents, an independent Pathologist was brought in from Jamaica to conduct the post-mortem. The initial report and subsequent final report raised a number of concerns surrounding the death of the victim, the correct and appropriate medical care provided and if this care in any way contributed to the death of this patient.

The Pathologist discovered in her examination that the endotracheal tube had been placed incorrectly into the patient’s stomach and not the lung.

The Coroner Judge Hernandez ordered a full sensitive investigation into the matter and directed that a suitably qualified expert on medicine, A&E and Trauma Room practices be employed to give an independent expert opinion on the facts presented.

Professor Charles Deakin a recognised medical expert from the United Kingdom, was asked to review all the material available to police and supplied by the George Town Hospital. This included patient records, witness statements from the Police, the HMS, and all medical staff present in the Trauma Room.

Expert Medical Opinion

On May 27, 2024, Professor Deakin presented his report, in which he is critical of the overall care provided to Ebanks whilst in the care of HSA. His assessment is that the primary and immediate cause of death was ‘unrecognized oesophageal intubation resulting in a fall in blood oxygen levels leading to a cardiac arrest.’ The endotracheal tube had been incorrectly inserted into the stomach of the patient, restricting the flow of oxygen to his lungs.

He also believed that Taiganides would not have been qualified to insert the endotracheal tube.

He stated that there was no clinical indication that there was a cervical spine injury any higher than the level of the cervical spine fractures at C6 and C7, and that it was unlikely that any spinal shock was present.  This was also unlikely to have made any major contribution to the cause of death.

He highlighted his concerns about the insertion of only one chest drain, which was into the right lung cavity. He stated there was a serious lack of understanding by staff of the extent of damage to both lungs, which should have resulted in chest drains being inserted into both lung cavities. He also expressed concerns as to why blood was not available for this patient.

Professor Deakin used the TRISS scoring method to estimate the chances of survival. The TRISS scoring method relies on both anatomical injury and the physiological condition of the patient at the time of admission to the hospital. The scoring result showed that Ebanks had a 92.55% probability of surviving the penetrating injuries.

Professor Deakin was asked what the chances of survival would be with the incorrectly placed endotracheal tube and his opinion was that an endotracheal tube placed in the oesophagus will result in inadequate uptake of oxygen from the lungs, progressive and rapid decrease in blood oxygen levels, cardiovascular collapse and cessation of the heartbeat, causing a fatal cardiac arrest. Unrecognised oesophageal intubation is unsurvivable.

He also stated that: ‘Blood loss and respiratory failure are potentially treatable, but inadequate volume resuscitation, failure to administer blood transfusion and failure to insert a drain into the left chest all contributed to the progressive deterioration in Ebanks.

DPP rulings

On Monday, June 24, 2024, Taiganides was informed that he was the subject of a criminal investigation into gross negligence manslaughter and was advised to seek legal counsel.

In September 2024, Taiganides was arrested at the Detention Centre and audio- and video-interviewed in the presence of his attorney, Mr Greg Burke.

Taiganides provided a pre-prepared statement and answered mostly ‘No Comment’ to the questions put to him. He was police-bailed, while a file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Whilst on police bail and with the approval of the DPP, Taiganides was permitted to leave the jurisdiction.

In January 2025, the then Deputy Director, Candia James, ruled that at that time she felt that there was insufficient evidence to charge at that point, but that further investigation into the overall care of Ebanks may yield evidence to form the basis of a further review.

DPP, Simon Davis, instructed UK-based Richard Matthews KC to conduct an independent review of the case.

Matthews KC, with the assistance of the officer in the case and Deputy Director Candia James, requested a further report from Professor Deakin and an additional report by Dr Richard Welling, a recognised expert in X-rays.

A further report was also obtained from the Pathologist, Dr Natasha Richards, clarifying some aspects of her final autopsy report.

Following further reports by Professor Deakin, Dr Welling, and Dr Richards, Richard Matthews KC provided his own independent review of the case to the DPP, Simon Davis.

DPP Simon Davis reviewed all the available reports and, on August 18, 2025, authorised that Taiganides be charged with manslaughter by unlawful omission, contrary to section 180(1) Penal Code (2022 Revision).

On Friday, August 22, 2025, Taiganides answered his police bail having travelled from Greece to Grand Cayman. At 10:25 a.m. on the same day, in the presence of his Attorney, Mr Greg Burke, he was formally charged by the officer in the case, DC 469 Sherwin.

Taiganides was conditionally bailed to the Summary Court at 10 am on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Prior to his appearance in the Summary Court, the condition of his police bail was that he remain on Grand Cayman to await his appearance at the Grand Court, so that court bail conditions could be set to ensure future court appearances.

Note to readers

This article refers to allegations only and does not imply guilt. A final determination will be made in court after all the evidence has been heard and the specific circumstances of the incident have been considered.

Taiganides was charged with manslaughter by unlawful omission, contrary to section 180(1) Penal Code (2022 Revision). This states:

Manslaughter

180. (1) A person who, by an unlawful act or omission, causes the death of another person commits the offence of manslaughter.

(2) An unlawful omission is an omission amounting to culpable negligence to discharge a duty tending to the preservation of life or health, whether such omission is or is not accompanied by an intention to cause death or bodily harm.

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