Patient signed form before operation, inquiry told
Penugonda Prasad contradicted evidence given earlier this week by patient Helen Cruise, who underwent a hysterectomy at Aut Even private hospital in Kilkenny on August 23, 2011.
She had claimed she signed the consent form for a hysterectomy while on the operating theatre table, after a spinal anaesthetic was administered.
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Peter Van Geene is facing a number of allegations relating to four patients on whom he performed hysterectomies. It is alleged that he asked Ms Cruise, 62, to sign the consent form for the hysterectomy only after a spinal anaesthetic had been administered.
Ms Cruise, who is the only patient involved in the case to waive her right to anonymity, was present with her family at the proceedings yesterday in order to hear the evidence given in relation to her 2011 operations.
Dr Prasad told the inquiry he had met her outside the operating theatre. He saw her signed consent form for a pelvic floor repair, plus or minus a hysterectomy.
Dr Prasad admitted he did not actually see her sign the consent form, but explained he would not usually be present for the signing of consent forms.
Asked whether he would ever administer an anaesthetic prior to the consent form being signed, Dr Prasad said: “No.”
He did not remember a conversation in theatre about the disposal of Ms Cruise’s uterus.
The patient alleged that, after her hysterectomy, Mr Van Geene told her he had thrown her womb in a bucket on the floor.
Eugene Gleeson, for Mr Van Geene, asked whether Dr Prasad found the surgeon to be courteous and professional. He replied: “Yes.”
The inquiry continues.
