Doctor accused of harassing nurses

A doctor accused of inappropriate behaviour, including attempting to touch, kiss and bite a number of nurses, has failed to turn up for a Medical Council fitness to practise hearing in Dublin.

A charge that Dr Osmanmahir Mahir had attempted to sniff another nurse’s underarm was withdrawn when the nurse was unavailable to give evidence this morning.

Dr Mahir, who is accused of professional misconduct and poor professional performance, also failed to appoint any representatives for the purpose of the inquiry, the hearing was told.

Opening the case, solicitor for the Medical Council JP McDowell said it was appropriate to proceed as Dr Mahir, who has addresses in Co Leitrim and Sudan, was on notice of the allegations and had been told the hearing date.

He detailed extensive correspondence with Dr Mahir including Dr Mahir’s requests, first to hold the hearing in private, and latterly to put the hearing back from 2012 to early this year.

Mr McDowell said Dr Mahir was dismissed from his post at the Adelaide and Meath hospital in Tallaght, Dublin, in April 2009 following an inquiry into the allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards at least five nurses.

He said Dr Mahir was also accused of failing to disclose his dismissal from Tallaght hospital when being interviewed for, and appointed to, a post in emergency medicine at Sligo General hospital in September 2009.

A nurse, identified as Nurse C, said Dr Mahir had grabbed her hand and asked if she was wearing a wedding ring. “Where is the men in this world?” he allegedly asked. “Why are you still single?”

She said Dr Mahir grabbed her name badge and touched her breast. She added that some hours later Dr Mahir apologised for the incident.

A second nurse, identified as Nurse D said Dr Mahir bit her on the skin of her elbow, saying: “This is what I do to my friends”.

“He didn’t break the skin but left a mark” she said.

Another nurse, identified as Nurse B, said Dr Mahir had commented on her Facebook photo, saying it was “very, very sexy” and she had subsequently had a conversation with him as to why she had deleted him as a ‘friend’ on Facebook.

A further nurse told the inquiry Dr Mahir had kissed her on the shoulder. She said she put it “down to cultural differences”.

Dr Kieran Cunningham, consultant in emergency medicine at Sligo General Hospital, told the inquiry Dr Mahir had admitted to have “bitten or nibbled one of the nursing staff” while depressed and suffering cultural difficulties.

Mr McDowell said correspondence indicated Dr Mahir was claiming to have been suffering from feelings of isolation and cultural differences when he was working in Tallaght.

Mr McDowell said Dr Mahir had also claimed to have been taking medication at the time and had submitted some supporting papers in this regard.

A decision in the case may be given later this afternoon.