A medical consultant at Mater Dei Hospital refused to treat a patient after he was told she used to visit a Chinese masseuse, according to a judicial protest.

Anna Maria Dougall, accompanied by her husband Joseph, went to Mater Dei Hospital to seek relief from pain she suffered after her arm was removed from plaster on June 16.

The couple said they had called at the Orthopaedic Outpatients Clinic and the doctor on duty removed the plaster applied three weeks earlier and decided that it would be better if her arm were seen by consultant Massimo Abela.

When Dr Abela showed up, Mrs Dougall said she was still in pain and occasionally sought treatment from a Chinese masseuse in an effort to ease it. The Dougalls claimed that, on hearing this, Dr Abela stopped treating Mrs Dougall and told her not to return to hospital. He also told her it was up to her to get used to the pain.

The couple said Mrs Dougall had every right to use the free medical services at Mater Dei and Dr Abela had no right to deny her his services just because he disagreed with alternative medicine.

While Dr Abela had a right to express his opinion and give advice, he had no right to be arrogant, more so when a patient was seeking assistance because of a pain she was feeling, the Dougalls said.

Lawyer Rachel Bonello signed the protest.