Muslim doctor rang patient to set up date with friend

A MEDICAL Council Fitness to Practise Inquiry has reserved its decision on the conduct of a Sudanese doctor who contacted a patient telling her he had a Muslim friend that she might like to meet with marriage in mind.

Dr Eltayeb Elkhabir, aged 40, who has worked in a number of hospitals in Ireland since 2001, was working for a week at the Hermitage Clinic in Dublin in May 2010 when he saw Sinead Doyle, 34, from Walkinstown, who was referred to the clinic for tests.

The inquiry is considering a series of allegations of professional misconduct against the doctor who called Ms Doyle on her mobile phone last June and also sent her text messages.

As well as urging her to abstain from alcohol for good, he suggested she might like to meet his friend, a Muslim like himself. He said it was difficult for Muslim men to met Irish women because they did not go to pubs.

Ms Doyle, who complained to the gardaí and the Medical Council about the doctor, claimed the doctor had taken her mobile number without her consent and viewed the contacts as greatly distressing and an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Ms Doyle had been referred to the Hermitage Clinic after becoming violently ill and underwent a series of tests for abdominal complaints. She later had her gallbladder removed at Tallaght Hospital.

The inquiry heard yesterday the doctor apologised to Ms Doyle in a letter to the council after receiving a copy of her complaint.

“I think what has happened was a misunderstanding and I would be grateful if it could be resolved as I would like to proceed in my career without any hindrance,” he wrote.

Dr Elkhabir said he was not trying to use his power as a doctor to impose on Ms Doyle and that his way of life and his cultural background was different. He had tried to help his friend and Ms Doyle to meet as a “good couple”.

Ms Doyle said the doctor spoke to her in an inappropriate manner when he saw her when she was being admitted for tests at the Hermitage Clinic. When she said she worked in a bank he asked her would he be eligible for bank loan.

She said the doctor also remarked on her age at the time, that 33 was a good age as Jesus had died at that age.

Ms Doyle said the doctor also asked her if she was single or married and if she was seeing anybody.

When he first called her on her mobile in June, he introduced himself and said he was just checking up on her to see if she was ok.

He said he was speaking to her as a friend, not as a doctor, when advising her not to drink alcohol but said he was there for her if she needed medical advice.

Ms Doyle said she had been too polite to tell the doctor to stop when he started calling her on her mobile phone.