Health system - Findings are outrageous

Who in their right mind could have faith in a health system where the majority of doctors and GPs fail to report their colleagues’ incompetence to a superior or where families are forced into lengthy court ordeals against hospitals even if the authorities are aware the State is in the wrong. Both scenarios typify Ireland.

Outrageous is the only word to describe a survey conducted for the Medical Council showing 59% of doctors remain mum despite feeling their colleagues’ incompetence is a threat to patient safety. This makes a mockery of the profession’s much-vaunted dedication to patient care.

There is something verging on the criminal about a scenario where a doctor is prepared to put a person’s life at risk in order in order to protect another medic. It reflects a worrying sense of confusion regarding the personal moral priorities of doctors and indicates a serious communications breakdown both in schools of medicine and in hospital training.

It is scandalous that some doctors remain tight-lipped because they fear retribution or assume that “somebody else” will look after the problem. Unless the Medical Council is prepared to take action by putting a more robust complaint system in place, the lives of patients could be put in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, hospitals, consultants, the HSE and the State persist with the unacceptable policy of forcing families to endure the stress of lengthy legal battles in order to secure compensation. In a case involving eight-year-old Ruby McCandless, who has cerebral palsy, the High Court awarded an interim payment of €1.45 million following a fight that dragged on since 2009 — with all that implies for the family.