A consultant dermatologist failed to take skin biopsies from a number of his patients and failed to diagnose certain conditions or provide adequate treatments, a Medical Council hearing has been told.
The council yesterday began a fitness-to-practise inquiry into allegations made against Dr Adam Jacobus Smith (65), the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford, by the Munster Dermatology Group.
The 12 patients at the centre of the allegations came under the care of other consultant dermatologists, members of the Munster Dermatology Group, after being treated by Dr Smith.
One patient, a 74-year-old man, said he first attended Dr Smith in January 2008 with a rash on his chest. He went four more times – two of which were for the removal of moles – but the rash did not clear up with medication prescribed by the consultant.
Early in 2009 he went to his GP who referred him to another dermatologist, Dr Gillian Gibson. By the time he saw the second consultant, he had blisters on his skin. Dr Gibson ordered a biopsy and then diagnosed bullous pemphigoid.
Gabriel Gavigan SC, for Dr Smith, questioning the patient, asked if Dr Smith had ever seen the blisters. The witness replied that he had not.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Dr Smith registered with the Irish Medical Council in 2005 as a specialist in dermatology.
The inquiry continues today.