Concerns over Neary situation aired in Dáil

Concerns have been raised today as to how disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary continued to work in a Co Louth hospital despite an investigation by colleagues in 1998.

Speaking in the Dáil on the Report of the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health and Children, Dr Liam Twomey TD, questioned why no action has been taken against the three obstetricians who concluded Dr Neary had no case to answer and that he should continue to work at the hospital.

“According to the Harding Clarke report, the three obstetricians who reviewed Dr Neary’s practices in 1998 expressed only serious regrets for their part in producing reports “which were motivated by compassion and collegiality”, which allowed Dr Neary to continue working at the hospital,” he said.

“However, that is just not good enough.

“Where was the compassion for the patient? This issue has wider implications for patient safety.”

Dr Twomey said it was clear that, in this case, medical professionals put the protection of their own members above that of patient safety.

He asked: “How do we know that this will not happen again, or has not already happened in other cases? What safeguards are there to ensure that patients will come first in such cases?

“The Medical Council and the Institute of Obstetricians have a serious case to answer.

“The Lourdes Inquiry only highlights the need for patient protection measures, which ensure that when bodies such as the Medical Council face similar cases with major conflicts of interest, the patient will absolutely come first.”