Doctor carries burden of patient’s death, inquiry hears

A CONSULTANT gynaecologist told a Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry she would carry a horrendous burden for the rest of her life because of the death of a patient in her care.

Dr Andrea Hermann, who worked at the Galway Clinic, has already admitted professional misconduct in her care of a mother-of-two.

Saundra O’Connor, aged 39, of Claregalway, Co Galway, died in February 2008, three years after undergoing a laparoscopy procedure.

She developed an infection immediately after the medical procedure in January 2005 that caused septic shock, multi-organ failure, cardiac arrest and severe brain damage.

The woman was resuscitated and remained in a coma for three years.

Dr Hermann, who worked at the Galway Clinic since 2004, wrongly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome when she saw Ms O’Connor in January 2005.

She arranged for an ultrasound that showed a cyst on the left ovary that was removed during the laparoscopy when Ms O’Connor was a day patient.

Ms O’Connor developed severe nausea and the doctor admitted her to the hospital overnight.

The woman began running a high temperature, was vomiting and complaining of pain in her abdomen.

Dr Hermann said she found brown murky fluid in the woman’s abdomen when she examined the surgical site but was completely puzzled about it.

The doctor admitted she should have had investigated the reasons for the patients symptoms sooner and started the patient on a course of antibiotics.

Dr Hermann said Ms O’Connor had Strep A that had passed from the skin into the wound, an infection that Dr Hermann claimed she had never seen before.

Dr Hermann said she recognised her shortfalls and the patient’s death was a tremendous tragedy for the family.

Dr Hermann was reported to the council over the care she provided to seven patients in the private hospital between February 2005 and November 2008.

Details of just two of the seven patients are being heard in public. Allegations in relation to the other five are being held in private.

The other case being examined in public involves another mother-of-two, a 39-year-old teacher who suffered from Factor 11 deficiency, a rare bleeding disease.