Cancer doctor ‘a danger to patients’, medical inquiry told

A doctor who worked in cancer treatment at University Hospital Limerick was a danger to patients and colleagues, a Medical Council inquiry has heard.

Dr Saqib Ahmed worked as a junior registrar in oncology from July to November 2012, when he was placed on administrative leave.

He is facing eight allegations of professional misconduct and/or poor performance at a Medical Council inquiry.

It is alleged he marked an area for a lumbar puncture on a cancer patient using his thumbnail, failed to request basic tests and failed to respond to attempts by staff to contact him when he failed to turn up on time for a ward round.

It is also alleged he left a clinic in July 2012 without permission, failed to adequately assess a patient, and responded in an aggressive manner when doctors spoke to him about his treatment.

Dr Ahmed, who qualified in Pakistan, is not legally represented at the inquiry and is participating by telephone from Grand Rapids, Michigan in the US.

Consultant oncologist

Prof Sanjeev Gupta, a consultant medical oncologist and regional director of services at University Hospital Limerick, said he was involved in interviewing Dr Ahmed for the post and that he presented himself as “a well-trained young physician who aspired to a career in oncology”.

The inquiry heard Dr Ahmed had contempt for senior nurses and colleagues that tried to advise him.

Prof Gupta said a patient with pneumonia could have died because Dr Ahmed prescribed the wrong amount and type of drugs.

He said Dr Ahmed prescribed one quarter of the recommended dose of a drug to a patient with pneumonia and the drugs should have been administered intravenously instead of orally due to the seriousness of the patient’s condition.

Nurse Susan Nagle raised concerns about Dr Ahmed's treatment of the patient with him, but he ignored the advice.

Prof Gupta said the nurses working at the oncology ward at Sligo University Hospital were experienced and Dr Ahmed should have heeded their advice.

“If a nurse raises concern about a patient, you must take it seriously. It would be foolish, even of myself, not to listen to them,” he said.

He told the inquiry if he had acted like Dr Ahmed as a junior registrar, he would have been dismissed.

Not infallible

Prof Gupta said while consultants or nurses were not infallible, it was important for junior registrars like Dr Ahmed to take guidance and advice from senior colleagues.

Referring to an incident where Dr Ahmed used his thumbnail to mark a cancer patient’s skin for a lumbar puncture procedure, he said: “To mark a patient without consent is assault. I doubt anyone would consent to having a nail put into their back,” he said.

Dr Ahmed defended using his thumb on that occasion by saying he was wearing gloves at the time.

Prof Gupta said he engaged with Dr Ahmed on several occasions following several complaints from colleagues about his professional performance, but there was no improvement.

‘Failing miserably’

“It was becoming more and more difficult to get through to this young man. I tried to help, guide and advise him. I suppose I was failing miserably.

“He was going to be a danger to patients and colleagues. I felt the only thing I could do was bring a complaint to the Medical Council,” he said.

Dr Ahmed was suspended and put on administrative leave in November 2012.

Following his suspension, the inquiry heard a stage four HSE report was carried out arising from complaints by two senior physicians at Sligo University Hospital about Dr Ahmed.

This report was completed in May 2013.

The inquiry was told the report stated Dr Ahmed was aggressive, dismissive and showed contempt for his colleagues and superiors.

It also said he showed an “uncaring” attitude towards some of his patients.

Prof Gupta said it was his opinion that medical oncology was not an appropriate career for Dr Ahmed.

The inquiry continues on Wednesday, March 11th.