Doctor accuses inquiry witness of lying

A doctor at the heart of a Medical Council inquiry yesterday questioned a witness as to whether he was lying.

Saqib Ahmed, who was working as a junior registrar in oncology at University Hospital Limerick in 2012, faces eight allegations of professional misconduct and/or poor professional performance.

While cross-examining a witness, Dr Ahmed — who was representing himself from the US via Skype — questioned Kamal Fadalla, a consultant haematologist, as to whether they met in person on October 20, 2012, when they were due to conduct a ward round together.

Dr Fadalla said he could not remember whether they had contact over the phone or in person on October 20, 2012, the day when Dr Ahmed allegedly could not be contacted for over an hour, even though he was the registrar on call.

October 20 was the first day that Dr Fadalla was working as a locum consultant at UHL, and he was hoping to receive some guidance during the ward round from Dr Ahmed, as the registrar.

Referring to the Muslim tradition of fasting during Ramadan, Dr Ahmed yesterday asked Dr Fadalla: “Are you fasting at the moment? Are you lying to say you didn’t meet me?” Later during the questioning, Dr Ahmed said pointedly: “I don’t lie during fasting.” Meanwhile, Dr Fadalla told the inquiry that Dr Ahmed told him he was “talking nonsense” when he discussed his provisional diagnosis of a patient with him.

Dr Fadalla, who was working as a locum consultant haematologist at University Hospital Limerick in October and November 2012, was surprised to find no notes on a patient who was transferred into the hospital from Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee on the evening of November 6, 2012.

Dr Fadalla told the inquiry that, as the consultant haematologist on call that evening, he expected to receive a call about the patient’s arrival. He received no phone call, however.

The inquiry continues.