Doctor misdiagnosed married woman with STI

A married woman in a monogamous relationship for 18 years has described her shock and upset upon being told by a doctor that she had the sexually transmitted infection herpes.

The woman, it later transpired, did not have the disease.

She said she felt stupid after the diagnosis and that she believed she was being told by her doctor that if she was not “playing away” then her husband was.

The 36-year-old mother has told a Medical Council inquiry that despite her protests that it was not possible for her to have an STI, Dr Iman Ekky insisted the disease had been dormant.

Upon seeking a second opinion two days later, the woman, who can only be identified as Patient A, was told she did not have herpes and was diagnosed instead with a blocked gland, known as a Bartholin’s cyst.

A fitness to practise inquiry into Dr Ekky’s treatment of the woman has heard that when confronted with this news by Patient A’s husband, Dr Ekky had no substantive response. Patient A’s husband said bringing an allegation of sexual misconduct into their home was “unforgivable”.

Dr Ekky, who works at the Drumcondra Clinic in Dublin, faces seven allegations of poor professional practice in relation to her treatment of the woman.

These include that she diagnosed Patient A with herpes when there was no clinical evidence of this diagnosis and that she caused undue distress to the couple.

Dr Ekky denies the allegations. Jane O’Neil, for the doctor, said her client acknowledged that she caused distress to Patient A and apologised for this.

Dr Ekky did not give evidence to the tribunal.

The inquiry heard that Patient A visited Dr Ekky’s clinic on Apr 25, 2012, because of a pea-sized lump on her genitals. Patient A said that after examining her, Dr Ekky told her she was suffering from a strong case of thrush and herpes.

“I was completely shocked,” Patient A said of the diagnosis. “I said, is that not an STD? She said it was. I said it can’t be possible because I am with my husband 18 years so it can’t be an STD.”

She said Dr Ekky told her “not to worry about it” and that the herpes had probably been dormant. Dr Ekky also told her she was going to take a swab for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

“To me it felt like she was saying, I kind of felt really stupid, I felt like she was kind of looking at me saying you’re so stupid, like if you’re not playing away then your husband is,” Patient A told the inquiry.

Patient A said she eventually visited a local GP who told her she did not have herpes but a Bartholin’s cyst.

She decided to make a complaint against Dr Ekky because she felt that if she had been in a different relationship it could have been “completely destroyed”.

The committee retired to consider a decision in the case, which it is due to deliver today.