Jersey doctor had gynaecology experience concerns

Dr Dolores Moyano Ontiveros said she had not worked in gynaecology for about four years

A locum doctor who operated on a Jersey woman who later died has told a hearing she was concerned about her lack of experience in gynaecology.

Dr Dolores Moyano Ontiveros is accused of puncturing a patient's major vein in 2006 while operating unsupervised as an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant.

Dr Ontiveros told the General Medical Council she was concerned as she had not worked in gynaecology since 2002.

She said she was told that she would get hospital support for procedures.

Supervision assurances

The Spanish-trained doctor told the hearing in London that, when she applied for the job, she had concerns about whether her experience fitted the position.

She said she had not practised in gynaecology or gynaecological surgery since her training in 2002 and only agreed to begin work after assurances that she would be working largely in foetal medicine.

She said she was told that support would be given in any gynaecological work, and that she was comfortable she could work on such cases with supervision.

However, when she arrived for work, despite assurances that doctors would be told about her concerns, staff were not expecting her and did not know her medical background, she said.

The GMC fitness to practise hearing is considering whether she perforated the patient's uterus and caused other damage, which she denies.

It is also alleged that during a phone call to the consultant surgeon she failed to reveal these complications and ensure that an urgent medical procedure was carried out.

In January 2009, Dr Ontiveros was found not guilty of the patient's manslaughter.

The hearing continues.