Doctors to face random checks

NEW random checks on doctors by the Irish Medical Council (IMC) must be underpinned by legislation, the Patient Focus lobby group insisted yesterday.

"We have had enough scandals over the last 10 years to totally alarm us about the quality of medical care in some cases," said spokeswoman Sheila O'Connor.

The announcement of the new checks on doctors has been made in advance of the publication of the report of the inquiry into the practice of controversial Drogheda obstetrician Dr Michael Neary.