Council doubles doctor’s suspension

THE Irish Medical Council has doubled the period of suspension imposed on a GP who failed to pass on crucial test results to his now terminally-ill patient and then tried to cover it up.

Dr Pat Lee, 45, who has a large practice in Ballincollig, Co Cork, was facing a three-month suspension following a fitness to practise committee hearing in July.

However, when the recommendation came before a general meeting of the medical council for consideration in recent days, it decided the case was so serious it doubled the suspension.