Consultants group apologised for Neary

THE IRISH Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) says it has apologised on a number of occasions to former patients of Dr Michael Neary for its role in defending the obstetrician.

At a press conference yesterday, IHCA secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said various presidents of the association had on a number of occasions apologised to the women concerned.

In 1998 the IHCA asked three Dublin obstetricians to carry out reports on Dr Neary's practice. The three exonerated the practice of Dr Neary after interviewing the obstetrician and examining the cases notes of nine women whose wombs he had removed.

The IHCA sought the reports as there were suggestions at the time that Dr Neary was about to be suspended by the then North Eastern Health Board. Questioned yesterday in the wake of the RTÉ drama this week on the Neary scandal, Mr Fitzpatrick said: "At the time, from what was known, and what the association did, it was appropriate."

He drew parallels between the actions of the IHCA at the time and the role of solicitors, barristers or any representative organisation asked for assistance by a client.

"Everybody accepts that if we were as wise then as we are today, then it would be very different. But that applies to an awful lot of other people as well," he said.

IHCA president Dr Paul Oslizlok said: "There has been a change in attitudes by the public and by doctors in hospitals, an attitude of much more transparency about how we work as doctors."