Plastic surgeon told to present himself to inquiry

AN ITALIAN plastic surgeon who faces allegations of professional misconduct following breast augmentation surgery on a Dublin woman has been told he is expected to appear in person before a medical council fitness to practise inquiry next Friday.

Dr Marco Loiacono, who faces 12 allegations of professional misconduct in relation to his treatment of Catherine McCormack (33), Swords, Co Dublin, had hoped to deal with the allegations against him by video link from Rome.

He appeared in person before the fitness to practise committee hearing his case in December and conducted his own defence, but requested then that he be allowed to participate in the second and final day of the inquiry remotely from Italy, where he could have Italian lawyers by his side.

When the inquiry resumed in this way in Dublin yesterday, there were technical difficulties with the teleconferencing facilities and attempts were then made to conduct the inquiry by telephone.

However, it was decided by fitness to practise committee chairman Daniel O’Hare that it would be unfair to all to try to move on and hear complex evidence from an expert witness in Dublin and expect it all to be heard clearly by Dr Loiacono and his legal team in Rome, who would then have to cross-examine the witness by telephone.

He said the quality of the telephone line might be quoted later as grounds for appeal.

Despite objections from Dr Loiacono, he ruled the inquiry would have to be adjourned. It will resume next Friday and Mr O’Hare said he expected Dr Loiacono to be present for it.

It is alleged that the doctor performed surgery on Ms McCormack at an Advanced Cosmetic Surgery clinic in Dublin in October 2006, when he knew he or other appropriately qualified practitioners would not be available to address post-operative complications and that he failed to apply adequate standards of clinical competence or judgment.

Dr Loiacono denies the allegations.

Ms McCormack told the first day of the inquiry that one of her breast implants had to be removed when an infection set in after surgery and she was ultimately left disfigured.