Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Disciplinary Inquiries.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

54 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to ensure that medical authorities will be more open and transparent in informing the public of the status and outcome of disciplinary and fitness to practise inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18548/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I would like to state firstly that the Medical Council is an autonomous statutory body established by the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978. The Medical Council is the statutory body established to provide for the registration and control of persons engaged in the practice of medicine under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978.

The fitness to practise committee of the Medical Council is called upon to consider the conduct of a registered doctor on allegations of professional misconduct and/or unfitness for health reasons to engage in the practice of medicine. Part V of the Medical Practitioners Act, in defining how the committee processes an application for such an inquiry, precludes the Medical Council or the fitness to practise committee from making public any matter concerning a registered medical practitioner that is being addressed. Section 45 provides that where a practitioner has been found guilty of professional misconduct and/or unfit to practice following a sworn inquiry, it is open to the Medical Council to make such a finding public and it is the usual practice of the council to do so when all proceedings have been completed. Where no finding has been made of professional misconduct and/or unfitness, the matter may only be made public with the consent of the practitioner.

The matter of revising the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, is under active consideration. I hope to be in a position to bring forward proposals this year.