The chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Ireland has confirmed that the institute is reviewing the practice of an obstetrician gynaecologist, as disclosed in Monday's Irish Times. The review follows concerns over the high level of Caesarean hysterectomies being performed by the consultant.
"Once we have done the investigation we will know the situation," said Dr Harith Lamki, a Belfast-based consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist. He said that as far as he knew, the work of the consultant in question had been "beyond reproach" but the results of the investigation should be awaited.
"Until we look and report we will not be able to say anything. Whether the doctor is right or wrong we do not know." He said the institute would give the results of the review to the health board involved and that board would then decide what to do with it. The vast majority of obstetricians/gynaecologist working in Irish hospitals are members of the institute.
Meanwhile, a local radio station covering the area where the hospital involved is based has received calls from over 60 women who say they underwent hysterectomies there and are unhappy about it.
Some had undergone Caesarean hysterectomies, others had their wombs removed unexpectedly during other procedures and others had their wombs removed on advice received from consultants operating in the hospital.
On a number of occasions this week The Irish Times has unsuccessfully sought comment on the case from the consultant, his solicitor and the health board involved.
In a three-year period the consultant obstetrician under review carried out 21 Caesarean hysterectomies, removing wombs, and in some cases ovaries, following delivery in a relatively small obstetric unit. This contrasts with a total of 12 of these procedures carried out in the National Maternity Hospital Holles Street over a seven-year period. In the Coombe maternity hospital, seven were performed over a five-year period.
Consultants in the three Dublin hospitals point out that where the system of having a Master is in place, any procedure out of the ordinary which has been carried out would immediately be noticed. "I would know the next morning if a Caesarean hysterectomy had been carried out here," said the Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Dr Peter McKenna. "In fact, I cannot remember one being carried out since I became master three years ago."
Dr Declan Keane, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, concurred. He said the last Caesarean hysterectomy at the hospital was performed jointly by him and a colleague. "I did it jointly with the professor. We would not take it lightly." A similar view was expressed by the Master of the Coombe Women's Hospital, Dr Michael Turner, who said its results were published on the Internet on the hospital's website "for all to see".