Patient claims doctor carried out fertility procedure without consent

The Medical Council's fitness to practise committee has adjourned an inquiry into a Galway doctor alleged to have carried out a fertility procedure without a patient's consent.

Consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist Dr Declan Egan, who practises at University Hospital Galway and runs the Galway Fertility Unit in Rahoon, faces an allegation of poor professional performance.

The inquiry is being heard in public on foot of a complaint to the Medical Council by the patient, Lorna McKeogh, a sales executive from Mountbellew, Co Galway.

The inquiry opened at the Medical Council headquarters in Dublin today but was adjourned shortly after to allow additional medical records of Ms McKeogh to be circulated.

This is the first fitness to practise hearing to take place in public for a number of months. This followed a decision by the High Court last year to overturn a finding of poor professional performance made by the council against a surgeon, Prof Martin Corbally. This has been appealed to the Supreme Court.

The allegation against Dr Egan is that he performed a clipping of both left and right hydrosalpinges (fallopian tubes) “in circumstances where this was not consistent with the consent form dated June 2nd, 2010”.

Arising from this, he faces an allegation that he failed to meet the standards of competence that could reasonably be expected of a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist.

Dr Egan performed a bilateral tubal ligation on Ms McKeogh, who was 32 at the time, at the Galway Fertility Unit on June 2nd, 2010.

At today’s hearing, JP McDowell, solicitor, for the Medical Council, applied for an adjournment to allow for the circulation of further medical records. These related to a procedure Ms McKeogh underwent in the Rotunda Hospital last May to have the clipping of her fallopian tubes reversed.

Eileen Barrington SC, for Dr Egan, described the situation as most unsatisfactory, given that the number of “permutations” the case has already been through.

However, she agreed the records were relevant and agreed to the proposal for an adjournment. The case is likely to resume next January.