Bahrain and the rights of doctors

PROFESSOR Eoin O’Brien resigned as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland “in protest against the failure of either Royal College to support colleagues who have been prevented from performing the fundamental duty that doctors are trained for, namely treating the sick and wounded”.

Professor Cathal Kelly, current CEO of RCSI, visited Bahrain and lobbied the authorities at least seven times this year.

He also issued a press statement asserting the rights and responsibilities of all doctors in the international sphere.

RCSI is duty bound to do what it can to protect staff and students and has done so.

It is not responsible for the actions or welfare of graduates or Fellows.

Eoin O’Brien formed part of a group that visited Bahrain to enquire after the facts and lobby the government.

The response of some Bahraini medics calling the visiting delegation “terrorists” and some of the detained Bahraini doctors “traitors” is an indicator of the level of largely religious ethnic hostility there.

The delegation was reported to have received a promise from the Minister for Health that the King would be asked to order the release of detained doctors.

Hopefully, international lobbying will encourage restraint by the local security forces in a dictatorship where human rights abuses are obvious.

In politics, as in life, timing is important.

The statements on Bahrain by both Royal Colleges in Ireland make Professor O’Brien’s resignation premature.

I salute the bravery of the visiting group but the role of RCSI Medical School is different.

I am neither a graduate nor an employee of RCSI.

Dr Bill Tormey

FRCPI

Dublin 11