Doctors want clarity on public complaints hearings plans

DOCTORS have called for clear guidelines before plans to allow public hearings into complaints against them pass into law.

Draft heads of bill for the new Medical Practitioners Act propose to allow the Medical Council hold public hearings for the first time. However, it comes with the caveat that the council may hold a private hearing at the request of the complainant or the practitioner, if it believes it to be more appropriate.

Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), Dr Eamonn Shanahan, said while they welcomed greater transparency, the proposals appeared vague in their current format.