Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Medical Practitioners Act.

Bernard Allen

Question:

246 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to amend the Medical Practitioners Act , 1978, in order to introduce new measures which could deal with doctors suffering addiction or mental health problems without reverting to the fitness to practice committee in order to protect patients from doctors who seek or continue to practice when they are not fit to do so and when their judgment is likely to be impaired. [23361/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The Medical Council is the regulatory body established to provide for the registration and control of persons engaged in the practice of medicine in Ireland. The council has proposed that a separate health committee should in future adjudicate on health matters relating to doctors. This proposal has been widely welcomed by the profession and I hope to be able to include it in proposals to amend the Medical Practitioners Act.