A WOMAN CLAIMS that a doctor carried out a procedure that left her infertile without her consent.

The Medical Council is today hearing evidence in a fitness to practice inquiry into Dr Declan Egan, a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist at University Hospital Galway, who also runs a private fertility clinic.

The inquiry heard that a woman had presented to Dr Egan having suffered her third miscarriage.

The patient alleges that when Dr Egan was carrying out a clipping of her right fallopian tube, he also clipped her left one in a manner “not consistent with the consent form”.

Egan does not dispute that he had not consulted the patient, but argued that he had done so due to the presence of hydrocele pinks, which had blocked the right tube, in the left tube.

He said that carrying out a second surgery could take over a year and carried a high risk of mortality and morbidity.

He said that he had “thought at great length” about the decision, adding that although he had acted “in good faith” and that the decision was “medically justified”, he accepts that he should have consulted the patient and her husband.

He apologised if the couple found him dismissive and that, after the woman had discovered she was infertile due to the procedure, they had received information for the private IVF clinic.

The inquiry was today considering an amendment to the charges that would see a case of poor professional performance brought.

The hearing is due to finish tomorrow.