Unhealthy scenario

The role of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) according to section 69 (2) of the Medical Practitioners Act of 1978 is: to give guidance to members of the medical profession on all matters of ethical conduct and behaviour.

And yet its officers regard exhorbitant salaries in these severe times to be ethically acceptable.

The same IMO has a health committee established to ‘assist’ doctors with health-related difficulties where such difficulties do not put the interests of patients at risk.

A senior house officer (SHO) on duty for 30 hours is in danger of putting his patients’ interests at risk of misdiagnosis or worse, due to exhaustion, and their own health in jeopardy, mentally and physically.

The Old Boys’ Club — a lethargic HSE — will only respond when we have had a number of fatal ‘accidents’.

Olive Hanrahan

Fermoy

Co Cork