By An orthopaedic doctor in Ireland is facing professional discipline after asking a 16-year-old female patient out for coffee while she was under his care at a hospital. The incident took place on June 28, 2018, when the teenage patient attended a fracture clinic in the south of the country for treatment of a foot injury. She attended the appointment alone and was seen by the doctor during a morning clinic. After examining her foot, the doctor concluded that the fracture had healed and that no further treatment was needed.
During the consultation, the doctor asked the patient personal questions, including whether she was single and what time she was free later that day. He suggested that they could go out for coffee or a meal and told her he would contact her that evening. He then asked for her mobile phone number, entered it into his phone, called her number to confirm it, and asked her to save his contact details. Later that evening, between 6:30pm and 7pm, the doctor made three phone calls to the patient. The patient felt uncomfortable during the interaction and became distressed after leaving the clinic. She recorded parts of the conversation on her phone and took a screenshot showing the doctor had called her. She contacted her mother immediately after the appointment and was very upset. Her mother later said the teenager was hysterical on the phone and blamed herself for not attending the appointment with her daughter. A formal complaint was made to the hospital the following day.
During later investigations, the doctor claimed the conversation occurred after the consultation ended and described it as social talk. He said he did not know the patient’s age at the time and stated that he usually expected a minor to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. However, hospital records showed that the doctor had dictated the patient’s discharge letter before calling her that evening and had recorded her age as 16. The patient’s date of birth was also visible on her file, chart, and referral documents. The fitness-to-practise committee heard that the doctor either knew or should have known that the patient was under 18 at the time.
Two independent investigations were carried out into the doctor’s conduct. The patient did not attend the inquiry but said during an investigation that she felt very uncomfortable and felt the need to record the interaction for her own safety. She later said the experience caused her to fear attending hospital appointments alone and made her anxious around doctors. The committee was told that the doctor abused his professional position by attempting to form a personal relationship with a minor patient.
During an investigation in 2019, the doctor admitted that the interaction should not have happened and accepted that his conduct fell below expected professional standards. Counsel for the Medical Council said the doctor’s behaviour had serious consequences for the patient and caused emotional harm. It was argued that censure alone was not a strong enough response and that stricter conditions should be placed on the doctor’s registration. The fitness-to-practise committee noted that the doctor had admitted the factual allegations and accepted that his actions amounted to professional misconduct.
As a result, the committee invited the doctor to give a formal undertaking not to repeat the conduct and to consent to being censured. The doctor agreed to both measures through his legal representative. To protect the privacy of the patient, the committee ordered that the identities of the patient, her family, and the doctor remain anonymous in all reporting. The committee will now prepare a detailed report for the Medical Council explaining the reasons for its decision and how it handled the case. The case highlights the importance of clear professional boundaries between doctors and patients, especially when the patient is a minor, and reinforces the role of medical oversight bodies in protecting patient safety and public trust in healthcare.
