Radiologist found guilty of poor professional performance

A radiologist who made serious errors in relation to a number of his CT scan reports was on Tuesday found guilty of poor professional performance at a Medical Council inquiry in Dublin.

The matter of sanctions against the doctor will be determined at a later date.

Dr Dawar Siddiqi, who worked as a locum consultant radiologist at Bantry General Hospital between May and September 2013, faced the allegation of poor professional performance at a fitness to practise hearing.

Specifically, it was alleged that Dr Siddiqi made serious errors in one or more of some 20 cases identified by an expert.

Potential brain tumour

These cases included patients who were facing a number of serious issues, including a potential brain tumour, and the serious threat of cancer in the lymph nodes.

The inquiry committee determined that Dr Siddiqi made serious errors in 11 of these cases.

In his closing submission, JP McDowell, for the Medical Council, said the most concerning aspect of the inquiry “is the lack of insight displayed by Dr Siddiqi into his own shortcomings”.

Mr McDowell said Dr Siddiqi had conceded that, prior to taking up the post in Bantry, he did not have any independent CT reporting skills. He also said Dr Siddiqi had last week admitted CT reporting was the weaker part of his skill set.

Despite the mitigating factors in terms of work environment and conditions, Mr McDowell said the hospital was entitled to rely on Dr Siddiqi’s competence in doing the job he was hired for, which he had led them to believe he possessed.

The radiologist defended his competence, arguing: “I have proven my skills in the period before and after [Bantry].” Therefore, he said, the issue must lie with the hospital and not with himself.

‘Suffered a lot’

“I have already suffered a lot at the hands of the Medical Council and CUH [Cork University Hospital, which now has remit for Bantry],” said Dr Siddiqi. “This is what I want to bring to your notice, that the procedures applied to me were totally unfair.”

Two former colleagues of the doctor gave evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday.

During cross-examination on Monday, Dr Siddiqi raised the possibility that he had not authored all of the reports under question, as he claimed not all of them had been verified.

However, Roisin O’Carroll, the radiography services manager at Bantry General Hospital, said Dr Siddiqi was indeed the author of the three reports.

On Monday, Mr McDowell questioned Dr Siddiqi in relation to a patient who was facing a serious threat that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

Dr Siddiqi defended himself in this case on Monday by arguing that he wrote an addendum to this report, which contained additional information.

Ms O’Carroll said there was only one report for this patient and no addendum.

She also said that, in two other cases that Dr Siddiqi queried, there were no changes, and the reports were written by him.

Teresa O’Donovan, former general manager of Bantry General Hospital, also told about a conversation she had with the doctor in her office when he was asked to leave the hospital.

‘Difficult conversation’

“We had a difficult conversation that night, Dr Siddiqi, and you said you were doing your best,” Ms O’Donovan said.

She added that, during that meeting, a colleague had “‘knocked on the door to know if I was okay”.

Dr Siddiqi was hired to work as a locum consultant radiologist at Bantry for the period between May and November 2013. However, because of concerns from the hospital, he ceased working there in September 2013.

Throughout the inquiry, Dr Siddiqi denied the allegation and insisted his circumstances constituted serious mitigating factors. He was not present for the ruling on Tuesday night.