A Dublin hospital consultant who was one of three senior doctors who provided reports that exonerated the practice of obstetrician Michael Neary has been elected president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). Martin Wall reports.
Dr John Murphy, a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, was elected to the post last week.
The Medical Council's fitness to practise committee is expected next month to begin dealing with a complaint against Dr Murphy and two other Dublin obstetricians regarding the reports produced on Dr Neary's practice.
The election of Dr Murphy as president of the RCPI , a very prestigious position in Irish medicine, was yesterday strongly criticised by Patient Focus, the group representing women affected by the practice of Dr Neary. Sheila O'Connor of Patient Focus said that the women concerned would be very alarmed and distressed at the election of Dr Murphy.
The official investigation into Dr Neary's practice, carried out by Judge Maureen Harding Clark, found that the three obstetricians "have had serious regret for their part in producing these reports, which were motivated by compassion and collegiality".
While acknowledging the reports produced by the three obstetricians may have been prepared for limited viewing, the judge said the language used was "regrettable".
The Medical Council decided to refer the cases of the three obstetricians to its fitness to practise committee earlier this year after it considered the report of Judge Harding Clark.
Patient Focus also made a complaint to the Medical Council regarding the three obstetricians.
The three doctors were not named in Judge Harding Clark's report but were identified subsequently in the The Irish Times as: Prof Walter Prendiville, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin; Dr Murphy, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street; and Dr Bernard Stuart of the Coombe Women's Hospital.
They had been asked by the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association to examine a number of cases of Caesarean hysterectomies carried out by Dr Neary.
The RCPI said yesterday that the president of the college is elected in accordance with its charter and by-laws.
Fellows of the college are eligible to vote. Dr Murphy could not be contacted yesterday.