A Queensland on-call surgeon who was pulled from an operating theatre after being seen swaying between a patient’s legs following the consumption of wine and spirits has spoken publicly about the “rock bottom” episode that resulted in her suspension.
Dr Alexandra Mowat, an experienced obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, was removed from surgery on March 24, 2024, after colleagues observed she appeared unsteady, unwell and detached.
The Brisbane surgeon had been called in to a hospital in the city’s south for a “semi-urgent” diagnostic laparoscopy involving a woman suspected of suffering an ovarian torsion.
The incident triggered Dr Mowat’s suspension and eventually led to her resignation.
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal deputy president Dearne Firth found that Dr Mowat’s conduct amounted to “a serious lapse of judgment”.
The tribunal heard that Dr Mowat, who was the hospital’s on-call Senior Medical Officer that weekend, had been drinking with friends at her home on the afternoon of March 24 when the call came in.
At that time, she had consumed two larger-than-standard glasses of red wine and part of a grapefruit drink containing vodka and gin.
Knowing the extent of her alcohol consumption, Dr Mowat arranged for a family member to drive her to the hospital, where she arrived at approximately 6.24pm.
Dr Alexandra Mowat was removed from the operating theatre after showing signs of intoxication
She’d been called in to perform a ‘semi urgent’ diagnostic laparoscopy for a woman with a suspected ovarian torsion
Several staff reported seeing her bump into a person in the corridor near the theatre changing room doors. They also said she told another staff member she was ‘so tired’, appeared unwell and spaced out, and swayed as she walked into the theatre.
Colleagues also reported seeing Dr Mowat unable to stand between the patient’s legs while preparing the perineum without contaminating her shoulders on the lithotomy stirrups, and incorrectly inserting a urinary catheter.
Theatre staff subsequently raised their concerns with the consultant anaesthetist, and Dr Mowat was asked to unscrub and leave.
The operation was delayed by 40 minutes to allow another doctor to attend and complete the procedure.
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Dr Mowat later told investigators from the Office of the Health Ombudsman that she was experiencing significant stress and had suffered a loss of professional confidence.
In her closing remarks, Judge Firth said Dr Mowat had recognised she had made a ‘terrible decision’ that ‘could have had far more serious consequences’.
‘Although Patient A was not harmed, the risk was ameliorated because other staff identified the Respondent’s condition and acted promptly to remove her from the procedure,’ she said.
‘The absence of actual harm does not lessen the seriousness of the conduct.’
The incident occurred on March 24, 2024 at a hospital in Brisbane’s south
‘The Tribunal is satisfied that the Respondent’s conduct should be characterised as professional misconduct, in that her conduct fell substantially below the standard expected of a practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience.’
She has been reprimanded for professional misconduct and for potentially risking the safety of a patient.
‘The Respondent admits that her conduct was ‘completely unacceptable’, and that it was professional misconduct.’
Dr Mowat continues to work in private practice.
‘I wasn’t at my best that night. It was my rock bottom,’ Dr Mowat said on Wednesday.
‘I have worked hard over the last two and a half years to be better and do better for myself, my children and my patients.
‘I am grateful for my colleagues’ support then and overwhelmingly grateful for the support of colleagues, friends and family over the last two and a half years.’
Dr Mowat’s comments came in response to a negative review left on her private practice page, which called on ‘ladies to think twice before going under the knife’ with her.
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