Psychiatrist says he will clear name
Dr John Harding-Price was struck off the British register following complaints from three female patients which were upheld by the Medical Council there.
He managed to get work in two hospitals in the south-east while banned in Britain pending the inquiry into his conduct.
One complaint has been lodged with a health board regarding his work here.
That complaint was recorded first in August last year and was further raised in January of this year. The health board investigation is continuing.
Yesterday, the 72-year-old doctor insisted he had done nothing wrong and said he wanted to clear his name.
The complaint was made by a family through a local councillor and relates to Dr Harding-Price’s time at St Luke’s Psychiatric Hospital in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, where he took up residence in April of last year.
“I am more than happy to come to Ireland and meet any inquiry, meet the patient if she so wishes and answer whatever questions are posed,” he said yesterday.
“I have nothing whatsoever to hide. This whole situation is ridiculous and it is dangerous for my former patient’s well-being. I am ready to help this patient, if she wishes. My track record speaks for itself.
“I have managed to help patients in similar cases lead a full life after two years in my care. Many went on to get jobs, to get married. My track record is there to be seen.
“A year later I still have not received a properly formulated complaint signed by the patient so I can answer this allegation.
“All I have is a few third party remarks. Unless I get a proper complaint, I can not deal with this matter. I also need the medical documents relating to this patient so that I can put this complaint in context,” Dr Harding-Price said.
New South Eastern Health Board CEO, Pat McLoughlin, said a team independent of the board had been appointed to come up with a report into Dr Harding Price’s term here.
A series of questions have been sent to him in the wake of interviews in the region. The investigation should be complete by the end of this year, he said.
On March 14, 2000, Dr Harding-Price was suspended in Britain and an inquiry into his behaviour began. A month later, he took up a temporary job with St Luke’s Psychiatric Hospital in Clonmel.
In July 2000, he moved to St Canice’s Psychiatric Hospital in Kilkenny where he worked until November 5.
In December, 2000 his hearing began in Britain. The British Council ruled the doctor’s conduct fell seriously below the standard which patients are entitled to expect of registered medical practitioners. His name was immediately struck off a register of doctors.
In the course of the complaints, it is alleged he removed a patient’s bra in a clinic in Britain without her consent and kept her undressed during the consultation.
Dr Harding-Price is reported to have asked a number of detailed and intimate questions regarding another woman’s sex life. The questions, the patient felt, were inappropriate.
A third woman attended his surgery at another centre complaining of severe headaches. It is alleged he did not satisfactorily examine her but instead asked her a number of detailed and intimate questions about her sex life.
The inquiry upheld all three complaints and banned Dr Harding-Price as a result.
