THERE WAS failure to grasp the urgency of the problems of a woman who later died of cancer, a fitness-to-practise inquiry at the Medical Council heard yesterday.
Sharon McEneaney, of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, first attended Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in October 2007 at age 29, but she was not treated for cancer until July 2008. It was only after the intervention of former TD Dr Rory O’Hanlon, in June 2008, that a biopsy was carried out, diagnosing the condition.
JP McDowell, for the Medical Council, said it had made 41 allegations against consultant gynaecologist Dr Etop Sampson Akpan, who qualified in Nigeria in 1985, after Ms McEneaney’s death in April 2009, but 14 were withdrawn.
Questioned by JP McDowell, for the Medical Council, independent witness Dr Anthony Smith, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, described Ms McEneaney’s condition where a retroperitoneal mass had developed as “very unusual”. He said its presence would “immediately raise concerns” and “you’d be saying to the radiologist, ‘this is an unusual finding’ ”. Regarding the allegation Dr Akpan failed to arrange a follow-up to the findings of the CT scan and arrange a biopsy, Mr Smith said “all the clinical pointers suggest it was important to get a biopsy done soon”, and agreed with Mr McDowell that not doing so was a “significant omission” by Dr Akpan.
Asked about the allegation Dr Akpan later told Ms McEneaney by telephone that she had a malignant tumour, Mr Smith said, “I find it extraordinary you’d tell a patient they have a malignant tumour over the phone.”
Cross-examining Dr Smith, senior counsel Eileen Barrington, for Dr Akpan, referred to nursing notes from December 21st, 2007, saying a CT scan was needed urgently. She said it was clear from the notes Dr Akpan was keen to organise the scan as soon as possible, but there was “something of an unsolved mystery in relation to why the CT scan didn’t take place until January 24th”.
Tanya McEneaney, sister of the deceased, said a letter of condolence she got from Dr Akpan in response to her complaint about him to the council was “very distressing because of the lies told in it”. The case continues today.
