Inquiry told of surgeon’s ‘extreme’ rudeness

A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist was “quite rude” to a patient when she questioned him after he performed a hysterectomy on her, an inquiry heard yesterday.

Nurse Caitriona Kenny from St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny said the impression she was left with, following a meeting with patient Helen Cruise, 62, and Dr Peter Van Geene, was “Mr Van Geene was quite rude to Ms Cruise”.

Nurse Kenny told the Medical Council inquiry in Dublin it was one of the most extreme incidents of rudeness she had witnessed from a doctor towards a patient.