Rise in complaints against doctors

Eight doctors were struck off in 2011, the same number as in the three preceding years, according to the annual report of the…

Eight doctors were struck off in 2011, the same number as in the three preceding years, according to the annual report of the Medical Council.

A further six doctors had conditions imposed arising from their appearance at a fitness to practice inquiry, such as a requirement to attend training courses or referral for treatment. Another 15 were censured or admonished.

Speaking at the launch of the report this morning, Minister for Health James Reilly said doctors were extremely expensive to train, so the first resort should not be to dismiss them when problems arise, but to pick up quickly on people "going off the path long before they cause real harm".

Of 32 doctors referred to the council's health sub-committee, 10 were referred for reasons of mental disability, nine for drug use, eight for alcohol and drug use and four for alcohol use alone.

The council received 367 new complaints against its members last year, and 39 of these were referred to the fitness to practise committee for investigation.

The committee heard 37 cases and eight of these resulted in the cancellation of the doctor's registration.

Last year, professional competence requirements for all practising doctors were introduced. It is now a legal requirement for all doctors to engage in ongoing training in order to retain their registration with the Medical Council.

"We are now overseeing a doctor's registration from the day they enter medical school until the day they retire from the register," said Professor Kieran Murphy, president of the council.

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen is Health Editor of The Irish Times