Medical Bill ‘dilutes definition of professional misconduct’

THE proposed Medical Practitioners Bill has diluted the definition of professional misconduct to such an extent that activities which currently construe misconduct would not be covered under the new bill.

Yesterday Health Minister Mary Harney and her department gave the Medical Council an undertaking that they would re-examine that aspect of the bill to address the concerns expressed by council president Dr John Hillery and registrar John Lamont.

“Compared to the definition of professional misconduct, the barrier is set much higher than it should be in the new bill and would not be in the interest of the public,” said Dr Hillery. “They understood that and assured us they are looking into it.”