The Republic of Ireland's High Court has ordered the suspension of a radiologist from University Hospital Kerry for various offenses, according to a 10 December report in the Irish Mirror.
The judge ruled that Dr. Clare Hartigan, a locum consultant radiologist, had mental health issues that impaired her judgment and posed a risk to patients if she continued to work without appropriate assessment.
This action followed a decision by the country's Medical Council last week that Hartigan lacked insight into her mental health issues, had failed to engage with the council, and refused an assessment by an independent psychiatrist. The complaint also cited three serious reportable events when diagnostic errors led to serious harm to patients, and approximately 30 incidents in which her practice was less than the standard required and could have had a harmful result, according to the report.
In addition, the judge noted that the manager of the Kerry hospital alleged in October 2017 that Hartigan did not meet competency and performance standards expected of a consultant radiologist, which included carrying out and reporting radiological examinations.
Hartigan disputed the complaints and referred to an average workload of 75,000 exams per year, of which she completed 37,000 exams in one year, almost half of the total workload of five radiologists at the hospital. Hartigan worked at the Kerry hospital between March 2016 and October 2017. Currently, she is employed in the private sector in London.
While such applications are normally handled privately, the judge gave an open ruling due to public interest concerns, the Irish Mirror reported.
