Medical policing - Proposals a cop-out on transparency

PROPOSED changes in the policing of the medical profession are long overdue and to be welcomed.

Essentially, Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney aims to kick-start a consultation process over the regulation of doctors in order to ensure all GPs are properly qualified and competent to practise.

The need for sweeping reforms, including a whistle-blower’s charter and ongoing assessments of doctors, was seen in the scandalous removal of wombs by Dr Michael Neary without the consent of his victims.

Public interest demands that more lay people be represented on the Medical Council. Regrettably, under the minister’s formula a majority lay presence is not guaranteed. Nor is transparency assured in inquiries into the conduct of doctors. Allowing patients to decide whether hearings should be heard in private or in public makes sense. But it would be counter-productive if doctors could exercise a similar veto.

What Ms Harney is proposing represents a cop-out on the vital issue of transparency.