Doctor tried to force tube into patient’s arm, inquiry told

A doctor’s insistence on attempting to insert a tube into a patient’s arm amounted to assault, an orthopaedic surgeon claimed yesterday at a disciplinary inquiry.

The proceedings into the actions of Omar Hassan Khalafalla Mohamed also heard of an instance in which he allegedly mistook an X-ray image of an ankle for that of an elbow.

A former colleague of Dr Hassan’s from the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise told the ongoing inquiry at the Medical Council that he does not recall any negative incidents with Dr Hassan.

Dr Hassan faces a number of allegations relating to time he spent working at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2012, Mayo General Hospital in 2013 and University Hospital Galway in 2014.

Dr Hassan, whose medical registration is suspended, denies the allegations.

John McElwain, clinical professor of trauma and orthopaedic Surgery at TCD, argued yesterday that a large number of the allegations against Dr Hassan constituted poor professional performance and professional misconduct.

The inquiry heard earlier this week that while working at University Hospital Galway in early 2014, Dr Hassan appeared to be unaware of basic protocols regarding cases of suspected child abuse.

The inquiry continues.