Case could pave way to end €400m medical cover row

THE High Court is due to make a judgment shortly in a test case aimed at ending the two-year €400 million row between hospital consultants and their former insurer, the Medical Defence Union, over who should provide cover in medical malpractice cases.

The High Court is due to issue a judgment on whether Irish courts have the jurisdiction to decide the "appropriateness" of the MDU's refusal to provide indemnity cover to hundreds of consultants facing malpractice law suits.

But whatever the judgement is, it is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. It could take up to a year before this court makes a final ruling.