Doctor ‘followed guidelines’ in ectopic pregnancy case

A doctor accused of misdiagnosing an ectopic pregnancy and prescribing drugs to terminate it was following guidelines in what could have been an extremely risky situation, a Medical Council inquiry has been told.

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist told mother-of-three Laura Esmonde she could “die in her sleep” and “bleed to death” if she took no action in relation to her suspected ectopic pregnancy in January 2013.

The doctor, identified as Dr A, is accused of poor professional performance in his care of Ms Esmonde at South Tipperary General Hospital. The Medical Council inquiry has heard allegations Dr A wrongly diagnosed Ms Esmonde with an ectopic pregnancy on January 8, when in fact, it was a normal pregnancy. He prescribed her two courses of methotrexate, a medication used to stop ectopic pregnancies from growing, which she took.