Colleagues defend doctor under IMC review
Colleagues have defended a doctor who is under review for the care he provided to three expectant mothers in Cavan General Hospital.
Dr Salah Aziz Ahmed, who worked at Cavan General Hospital faces allegations of poor professional performance and professional misconduct at an Medical Council inquiry in Dublin.
Dr Aziz, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist is alleged to have provided substandard obstetric care to three mothers, two of whom have been anonymised and one who has been named as Deirdre Clarke.
Evidence continued this morning (Wednesday) in relation to Ms Clarke, who was admitted to Cavan for an induction on 5 June 2013. That night, Ms Clarke required an emergency caesarean section, after her uterus ruptured.
She suffered a post-partum haemorrhage and her baby boy was born in a very poor condition, needing resuscitation. He made an eventual recovery.
Dr Murtaza Essajee, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who worked with Dr Aziz in Cavan, praised his colleague and said that Dr Aziz was the reason he moved to Cavan.
“I have no hesitation in Dr Aziz,” he said. “In fact, one of the reasons that I moved to Cavan was because of Dr Aziz. He had a good reputation when I joined Cavan hospital.”
Dr Essajee said that Dr Aziz, as the senior colleague in the department, was always supportive and approachable.
“It was great to have him around,” he said. “He made you feel welcome and part of the team.
“Dr Aziz always looked out for the welfare for the department of Cavan,” Dr Essajee continued.
“One of Dr Aziz’s big concerns was that we practised good, clinical-based medicine.”
Dr Aziz was placed on administrative leave in 2014, after a matter that will be reviewed later in this inquiry.
Eileen Barrington SC, legal representative for Dr Aziz, asked Dr Essajee whether he would have any reservations about Dr Aziz returning to work at Cavan.
“None whatsoever,” Dr Essajee replied. “I think Dr Aziz is a great loss to our department. He’s safe, and he’s dependable.”
A number of other former colleagues of Dr Aziz also wrote testimonials praising him, which were handed into the inquiry.
The inquiry continues this afternoon.