Former Dublin Radiographer Found Guilty of Professional Misconduct

 Dublin(Ireland): A former radiographer at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), Adrian Peconcillo, has been found guilty of professional misconduct over inappropriate behavior while conducting a chest X-ray on a teenage patient, as well as subsequent attempts to contact her via social media.

Peconcillo now faces restrictions on his ability to continue practicing as a registered radiographer following a fitness-to-practise inquiry conducted by CORU, the regulatory body for health and social care professionals. The inquiry revealed that he has not worked for nearly two years after being dismissed by TUH in April 2023 due to the incident.

The case was initiated following a complaint by Laura Gannon, Radiography Services Manager at TUH. The fitness-to-practise committee determined that Peconcillo’s actions during a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old female patient on January 25, 2023, were neither clinically justified nor appropriate.

Incident and Findings

The inquiry heard that Peconcillo failed to provide the patient with a hospital gown before instructing her to undress. As a result, the patient emerged from the changing area undressed from the waist up while covering her chest. During the procedure, he was accused of facing her directly while her back was against the X-ray board and later inviting her to view the X-ray while she remained undressed.

Furthermore, the inquiry was informed that Peconcillo attempted to contact the patient via Instagram on the same day, sending one or more follow requests. Counsel for CORU, Neasa Bird BL, stated that the social media contact was entirely inappropriate and lacked any clinical justification.

Consequences and Sanctions

Following a complaint by the patient’s parents, TUH suspended Peconcillo and later dismissed him in April 2023 after an internal investigation. His legal representative, Matthew Jolley BL, acknowledged the allegations and expressed Peconcillo’s remorse for his actions.

Despite an application by Jolley to conclude the inquiry based on undertakings by Peconcillo regarding his future conduct, the committee rejected the request. Chairperson Geraldine Feeney ruled that the allegations constituted professional misconduct and violated the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for radiographers.

The committee considered suspending Peconcillo’s registration but ultimately decided against it, given his two-year absence from practice. Instead, it recommended that specific conditions be imposed on his continued registration, details of which will be communicated to him in due course and reviewed by CORU’s council for final determination.