Ireland Case No. 4039Professional misconduct (medical, death following surgery) · Co. Limerick · 8 May 2018
Fitness-to-practice inquiry into death of Jessica Sheedy after surgery at University Hospital Limerick
A fitness-to-practice inquiry heard that Dr Ashish Uday Lal, a consultant surgeon at University Hospital Limerick, was found guilty of professional misconduct and poor professional performance after 18-year-old Jessica Sheedy died three days following abdominal surgery in May 2018. Gardaí requested to be told of the committee's findings, and it was confirmed that no prosecution was brought by the DPP.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Jan
- Convicted20 Jan
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDr Ashish Uday Lal performed surgery to remove a benign tumour from Jessica Sheedy's abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJessica Sheedy sustained a significant bleed during the procedure and died three days later on 11 May 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal made full admissions to the allegations regarding care provided between 23 November 2017 and 11 May 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal failed to consider a non-operative strategy or discuss it adequately with Ms Sheedy or her family. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal presented the case before an oncology multidisciplinary team meeting on 19 January 2018 in an inappropriate forum. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal made the decision to proceed with surgery without sufficient consultation with surgical or vascular colleagues. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal failed to consult or place the vascular team on notice of the surgery details. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCT images were available for weeks before surgery but Dr Lal failed to review them with a consultant radiologist. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal made the decision to proceed to surgery without the appropriate experience. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal advised Ms Sheedy that after the operation there would be a scar from her groin to her ribs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen uncontrolled bleeding began, Dr Lal failed to stop or pause the procedure or await vascular surgical assistance. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal admitted he did not seek vascular surgery assistance in a timely manner. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAnaesthetic nurse Elaine Lyons phoned Prof Kavanagh but Dr Lal declined to talk to him and gave no reason. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Lal told Prof Kavanagh via Ms Lyons that he did not need assistance. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Ashish Uday Lal was a consultant surgeon at University Hospital Limerick who operated to remove a benign tumour from the abdomen of 18-year-old Jessica Sheedy on 8 May 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJessica Sheedy died three days after the surgery following a significant bleed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe surgery took place at University Hospital Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereJessica Sheedy was from Caherguillamore, Bruff, Co Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe surgery was performed on 8 May 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe reason for the bleeding during surgery was probably a torn hole in the aorta with additional bleeding points. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána requested to be told about the findings of the committee and of any report. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Medical Council fitness-to-practice inquiry heard the case on Tuesday, 20 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtProfessional misconduct was also found regarding a misleading statement about obtaining a second opinion from Mr Dirk Strauss at Royal Marsden Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe committee found that Dr Lal's conduct in 10 of the allegations amounted to poor professional performance. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDr Lal made full admissions as to fact and was found guilty of professional misconduct and poor professional performance. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the Medical Council, which will make a decision to be forwarded to the High Court for confirmation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Lal had worked at UHL for five-and-a-half years as a consultant surgeon before the operation on Ms Sheedy. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Lal was agreeable to 19 conditions being attached to his registration, including exclusion from retroperitoneal surgery and surgery involving benign tumours. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Lal had worked as a surgeon in New Zealand for about nine months across four periods in 2021, 2023 and 2024. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jan2026Gardaí want to be told inquiry findings over woman’s death after surgery, committee hears
Third day of the fitness-to-practice inquiry; committee found 13 factual allegations proven as serious failings and retired to consider sanction. Gardaí requested findings; no DPP prosecution. Dr Lal agreeable to 19 conditions on registration.
victim, Jessica Sheedy, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Sheedyconvicted, Dr Ashish Uday Lal, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dr Ashish Uday Lal - 20 Jan2026Surgeon guilty of professional misconduct after teen dies three days post-operation
First report of the fitness-to-practise committee's findings; sanction hearing scheduled for the following day.
victim, Jessica Sheedy, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Sheedyconvicted, Dr Ashish Uday Lal, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dr Ashish Uday Lal