Woman claims she was kissed and molested by hospital consultant

A mother of three told a Medical Council hearing yesterday how she was absolutely terrified after she was allegedly kissed and molested by a hospital consultant.

Teri Chamberlain, who was living in Cahir, Co Tipperary, at the time, claimed an anaesthetist kissed her, locked her into his residence and molested her.

Dr Hossam Desoky, from Egypt, who was working as a consultant anaesthetist at South Tipperary General Hospital on July 13, 2010, is facing 10 allegations of professional misconduct, or poor professional performance at a Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry.

Katie Dawson, barrister for the Medical Council, told the inquiry Dr Desoky disputes the patient’s account of events.

Ms Chamberlain, admitted to the hospital for a colonoscopy, gave evidence yesterday that she first met Dr Desoky in a lift at the hospital when she was going in to be admitted.

She said that in the lift Dr Desoky asked if she was an inpatient and said he was the chief anaesthetist. She said he later came to her bedside, pulled the curtain around and kept grabbing her hand.

Ms Chamberlain told the inquiry that during the consultation Dr Desoky kissed her on a cheek.

She said her visitors arrived, her daughter and former husband, and Dr Desoky left. She said she explained what happened to them and they suggested “maybe it was his culture”.

Later, Dr Desoky phoned her on her mobile asking if the visitors had gone as he wanted to return to check her chest in preparation for the anaesthetic, she said.

The legal representative for Dr Desoky told the inquiry that his client denies in their entirety the allegations of sexual assault or molestation.

Jack Hickey, BL, said that despite intensive interviewing of Dr Desoky by gardaí, the Director of Public Prosecutions chose not to proceed with the matter.

Ms Dawson told the inquiry there was CCTV footage that could be shown to the hearing, which continues today.