Radiologist asked if he had concerns over his own competence

A radiologist at the centre of a medical inquiry in Dublin has denied poor performance in the treatment of a number of patients facing potentially life-threatening issues.

Dr Dawar Siddiqi, who worked as a locum consultant radiologist at Bantry General Hospital between May and September 2013, on Monday defended his reports on a number of CT scans that have been called into question by expert witness Dr Peter Ellis, a consultant radiologist based in Belfast.

These cases include patients who were facing a number of serious issues, including a potential brain tumour, and the serious threat of cancer in the lymph nodes.

During cross-examination, JP McDowell, legal counsel for the Medical Council, questioned Dr Siddiqi regarding a number of cases that Dr Ellis raised concerns over.

Mr McDowell said that, in one case, Dr Ellis said there was evidence of a spread of a tumour through various lymph nodes, and that Dr Siddiqi did not reference this in his CT report.

When Mr McDowell asked Dr Siddiqi, who denies the allegation against him, why he did not refer to this spread, the radiologist claimed the lymph nodes were not large according to CT criteria.

Brain haemorrhage

In another case, Dr Ellis said Dr Siddiqi reported the young adult patient had a brain haemorrhage. In contrast, Dr Ellis claimed the patient was suffering from an aggressive brain tumour.

Dr Siddiqi argued the patient was young, so one would not automatically think of something “as sinister” as a brain tumour. He said the CT scan was an initial investigation, and so he wanted to conduct further investigations before he reported on something as serious as a brain tumour.

Dr Siddiqi added that, after a discussion with his colleague, the patient in question went “straight away” for an MRI.

Mr McDowell questioned Dr Siddiqi in relation to a case of a patient who had a history of prostate cancer. Dr Ellis argued this patient was facing a serious threat that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

Dr Siddiqi defended himself in this case by arguing that he wrote an addendum to this report, which contained additional information.

Competence concerns

Mr McDowell asked Dr Siddiqi whether, when looking back at all the cases, he had concerns about his own competence.

“During that time [at Bantry], I felt that this is not the ideal place for doing such an important role,” Dr Siddiqi said.

He said he felt the circumstances and environment were such that issues would inevitably arise.

Mr McDowell again questioned Dr Siddiqi regarding his views on his own competence.

“I am a general radiologist and I can do the work of a general radiologist, whatever that entails,” Dr Siddiqi insisted.

Referring to his time at the hospital, he said: “I think I did the best job I think anyone else could do.”

Dr Siddiqi again questioned the independence and suitability of Dr Ellis as an expert witness.

During the cross-examination, Dr Siddiqi raised the possibility he had not authored all the reports in question, as he claimed not all of them had been verified.

Dr Siddiqi faces an allegation of poor professional performance.

Serious errors alleged

Specifically, it is alleged he made serious errors in one or more of some 20 cases identified by Dr Peter Ellis.

The number of cases originally included in the allegation against Dr Siddiqi stood at 22, but two were withdrawn on Friday. Another allegation, that Dr Siddiqi’s rate of error in the cases was unacceptably high, was also withdrawn.

Dr Siddiqi was hired to work as a locum consultant radiologist at Bantry for the period between May and November 2013. Because of concerns from the hospital, he ceased working there in September 2013.

The doctor told the fitness-to-practise inquiry last week that, since then, it has been very difficult for him to secure new employment because of “disinformation” about him allegedly perpetuated by Bantry General Hospital.

The inquiry is expected to conclude on Tuesday.