Doctors appeal misconduct charge

TWO hospital consultants found guilty of professional misconduct are to seek a judicial review in the High Court of the Medical Council’s findings against them.

On Monday evening, Dr Walter Prendiville, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Coombe Women’s Hospital and Dr John Murphy, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, lodged papers in the High Court initiating a case against the Medical Council.

Both doctors were among three obstetricians found guilty of misconduct by the Medical Council for ecommending disgraced Drogheda obstetrician Dr Michael Neary be allowed to return to work despite concerns about the high number of caesarean hysterectomies he had carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Dr Neary was subsequently struck off by the Medical Council after a review by a UK-based consultant found he had carried out unnecessary surgery on a number of women.

Earlier this month, the Medical Council published the transcripts of its fitness-to-practice inquiry into the roles doctors Prendiville and Murphy and Dr Bernard Stuart played in allowing Dr Neary return to work.

The FTP committee recommended minor sanctions against the doctors but these were not imposed.

On Monday, Hayes Solicitors, of Lavery House, Earlsfort Tce, Dublin and Arthur Cox Solicitors lodged papers with the High Court on behalf of Dr Murphy and Dr Prendiville. Dr Stuart did not lodge papers with the High Court.

March 12 is the date set for Dr Murphy’s appeal to be heard by the president of the High Court, Honourable Justice Mr Richard Johnson. Dr Prendiville’s case is listed for May 12.

Last week, Dr Murphy resigned as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland saying he did not want to compromise the reputation of the college.