Medical Council examines case against Galway gynaecologist

A MEDICAL Council hearing will resume on Monday in Dublin into complaints against a consultant gynaecologist who has admitted…

A MEDICAL Council hearing will resume on Monday in Dublin into complaints against a consultant gynaecologist who has admitted professional misconduct in her care of a mother of two.

The hearing is examining seven complaints which were made against Dr Andrea Hermann involving patients who were under her care between 2005 and 2008 at the Galway Clinic.

The case opened briefly for a fourth day in Galway yesterday morning to hear evidence from two nurses at Galway Clinic about procedures at the hospital for use of blood in operations.

Dr Hermann has already admitted professional misconduct in her care of a mother of two, Saundra O’Connor (39) from Claregalway in Co Galway, who died following a day procedure at the clinic in 2005.

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The case currently being examined by the Medical Council involves another mother of two, a 39-year old teacher who suffered from Factor 11 deficiency, a rare bleeding disease.

She was admitted, with a high temperature and suffering from abdominal pain, to Galway University Hospital 12 days after undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy at the Galway Clinic.

Her condition deteriorated and it was discovered that she had a pelvic infection and a haematoma was also found. The patient received clotting factor replacement and recovered and was released from hospital after 19 days. Yesterday, nurses Marese Cullinane and Fiona Cusack outlined the routine at the Galway Clinic for blood use during procedures. The hearing, which has so far heard evidence from 36 witnesses, has now finished in Galway and will resume on Monday morning at Canal House in Dublin and will continue next week.

Dates have been set aside at the end of January for further evidence to be heard before the Medical Council committee.