Consultants plan legal fight against Government on enterprise liability plan

HOSPITAL consultants are building up a war chest to mount a legal challenge against the Government if it introduces enterprise liability from next month.

Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said they will also withdraw from Hanly contract talks if the new Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) is unilaterally imposed. IHCA members are being canvassed for a €500-a-head contribution to fund the possible legal challenge.

The CIS (enterprise liability) scheme proposes the State indemnify consultants and hospitals as a single entity against claims from patients. Until now, consultants have paid a premium to either the Medical Defence Union (MDU) or the Medical Protection Society (MPS) for indemnity against malpractice or negligence claims.