High Court hears that doctor working at Limerick maternity had never practiced medicine

THE President of the High Court has expressed concern in relation to what he described as “defective” procedures for recruiting doctors to work in hospitals.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly made his comments as he granted an application to suspend a junior doctor who had been working at University Maternity Hospital Limerick.

The High Court heard other doctors raised serious concerns about him lacking basic medical competency and being a danger to patients within days of him starting employment.

According to the Sunday Times, the doctor had claimed he had worked as a Senior House Officer in Scotland even though he was only an “observer”. 

He was originally from Nigeria but studied in the city of Constanta in Romania. 

The doctor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was hired in July even though he had never practiced medicine in Nigeria, Romania or the UK. He claimed he made it clear that he had little experience and had only worked as an "intern/observer" at a clinic in London. 

It subsequently transpired he had never been taught how to examine a pregnant woman and concerns were quickly raised that he was "lacking in basic competencies".

He was told to work only under supervision and complaints were made to the Medical Council.

The suspension order was sought by the Medical Council to protect the public. It applies pending a fitness to practice inquiry into complaints by two obstetricians about his work.