HSE admit doctor accused of raping nurse ‘should have been suspended' from Limerick hospital

A UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick doctor, who was convicted of raping a nurse after a night out, “should have been suspended from clinical practice when we became aware of the assault”, admitted HSE Mid West this week.

Louay Kila was found guilty by a jury last week of raping and sexually assaulting the nurse in a city apartment in 2024. Both Kila and the victim were employed by UHL at the time. 

The nurse, in her victim impact statement, said she was offered a transfer to another healthcare setting but Kila continued to work as a doctor in UHL. She said she has struggled for the last two years with fear and trauma but she also feared for the patients of UHL. 

“I feared something similar could happen to someone else and knew that I would be taking on the guilt of not having done enough if it did. I tried and the gardai tried to consult UHL but to no avail,” said the nurse.

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The Limerick Leader sent a number of questions to HSE Mid West regarding the nurse’s victim impact statement and the continued employment of Kila as a doctor.

A spokesperson for HSE Mid West said on Tuesday that protective measures were put in place for the victim based on her individual requirements following her identification of the assault.

“Dr Kila should have been suspended from clinical practice when we became aware of the assault. Regrettably, this did not occur. 

“This does not reflect current practice and policy. The welfare of our staff remains our priority,” said the spokesperson.

Minister of State Niall Collins said from reading the nurse's victim impact statement, her treatment by UHL does a disservice to all victims of abuse. 

“It was International Women's Day on Sunday which promotes gender equality, empowerment, and women's rights and UHL's behaviour in this regard is certainly not in keeping with that ethos,” said Mr Collins.

Siobhán O'Leary, director of Rape Crisis Midwest, said from reading the victim impact statement, it appears the employer was “incredibly unsupportive”.

“In our dealings with victim survivors, generally, the employer supports them throughout the process - this beggars belief to be honest,” said Ms O’Leary.

She said the actions of the woman “goes beyond bravery”.

“She stood up for every victim survivor. She looked this convicted perpetrator in the eye and said what you did was wrong and no means no,” said Ms O’Leary.