Doctor’s treatment of patient constituted assault, says surgeon

A doctor’s insistence on attempting to insert a tube into a patient’s arm amounted to assault, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon claimed on Thursday at a disciplinary inquiry.

The Fitness to Practise proceedings into Dr Omar Hassan Khalafalla Mohamed also heard of an instance in which he allegedly mistook an X-ray image of an ankle for that of an elbow.

Meanwhile, a former colleague of Dr Hassan's from the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise told the ongoing inquiry at the Medical Council that he does not recall any negative incidents with Dr Hassan.

Dr Hassan faces a number of allegations relating to time he spent working at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2012, Mayo General Hospital in 2013 and University Hospital Galway in 2014.

Dr Hassan, whose medical registration is suspended, denies the allegations.

John McElwain, clinical professor of trauma and orthopaedic surgery at Trinity College Dublin, argued that a large number of the allegations against Dr Hassan constituted poor professional performance and professional misconduct.

Last week, a patient, a mother referred to as AK , told the inquiry she was due to have surgery in September 2012 at the Portlaoise hospital. In order to provide AK with intravenous fluid, Dr Hassan attempted to insert a needle into her arm but was not able to find a vein.

AK said that, after several attempts, she knew the line was not in correctly so she asked Dr Hassan not to continue. She said she became distressed because Dr Hassan continued his attempts to insert the needle even after she said she did not want him to do it.

‘Serious matter’

Prof McElwain said he would consider Dr Hassan’s continued attempts to cannulate – or insert a needle into – AK after she requested him to stop “a very, very serious matter”.

“I would categorise that as assault,” said Prof McElwain, adding that the allegations in relation to this matter, if proven, amount to poor professional performance and professional misconduct.

“He caused her distress. He caused her pain,” said Prof McElwain.

Consultant Odhran Murray, who worked with Dr Hassan in Galway, told the inquiry of an instance in which his former colleague mistook an X-ray of an ankle for an image of an elbow during a trauma conference with colleagues.

Doctors were discussing cases and Dr Hassan answered a question regarding an X-ray. Mr Murray said on Thursday that an image of an ankle went up. Dr Hassan thought it was an image of an elbow and proceeded to tell everyone about the “elbow” fracture.

“There was an audible gasp in the room,” said Mr Murray, who added that he would expect a medical student – let alone a senior house officer such as Dr Hassan – to know the difference.

Under cross-examination, Dr Hassan said to Mr Murray: “I have no clear recollection of that particular incident. I think you had a moment of unclarity.”

Mr Murray also recalled an instance in which he and Dr Hassan were scrubbing up in preparation for theatre, so that they would not cause contamination during surgery.

The inquiry continues.