Body's power takes in cases abroad

Medical Council: Doctors in Ireland can face disciplinary investigation by the Medical Council even if the issue in question took place outside the jurisdiction.

The president of the Medical Council, Dr John Hillery, said yesterday that the key issue involved in any such case was whether the doctor concerned was on the register in Ireland.

Dr Hillery said he could not comment in relation to cases involving individual doctors.

However, if an issue regarding a doctor's behaviour gave rise for concern, it did not matter if it took place outside the country as long as the person was on the register here.

Dr Hillery said the Medical Council's fitness to practise committee could carry out investigations into complaints or allegations made against doctors for issues that allegedly took place abroad.

He said the key question for the Medical Council was whether or not the doctor concerned was on the Irish register.

There have been cases in the past in which the council carried out investigations into issues that allegedly took place outside of the jurisdiction.

However, Dr Hillery said that on occasion the Medical Council had experienced difficulties in relation to securing witnesses in fitness to practise hearings in such cases.

He also said doctors in Ireland ethically had to be able to stand over courses of treatment for which they referred patients.

"I, as a doctor, have responsibility for treatments I administer to patients," he said.

"If I refer a patient for a particular course of treatment, then I have to be able to stand over that treatment.

"I have to be satisfied that the referral is the correct route to go and that the advantages that the treatment will offer to the patient will outweigh any downside," Dr Hillery said.