Vol. 526 No. 2
85 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation whereby Irish doctors are four times more likely to be sued than a colleague in the UK; and if he has had considerations made into reform of the current adversarial basis for medical purposes. [26159/00]
I am not aware of any firm or reliable evidence to suggest that Irish doctors are four times more likely to be sued than their colleagues in the United Kingdom. I recently circulated a briefing paper on proposals to reform the existing arrangements for the provision of medical indemnity cover for doctors. These reforms will be accompanied by a comprehensive risk management system designed to reduce the number of incidents which give rise to claims.
Claims for damages for personal injury resulting from medical negligence are handled in the same manner as all other claims for personal injury. Any change in how these are handled is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
