A doctor accused of misdiagnosing an ectopic pregnancy and prescribing drugs to terminate it was following guidelines in what could have been an extremely risky situation, a Medical Council inquiry has been told.

A woman who required a major blood transfusion after a hysterectomy was unable to find out from her doctor whether he had removed her ovaries, a inquiry heard yesterday.

A nurse who taped a patient’s mouth would not be an ongoing risk to patients in future, a psychiatrist told a disciplinary hearing yesterday.

A nurse who put surgical tape over a severely brain damaged patient admitted yesterday that his action amounted to professional misconduct.