The three obstetricians who provided reports in 1998 exonerating the practice of Drogheda obstetrician Dr Michael Neary have been found guilty of professional misconduct.
The finding follows a Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry into the behaviour of the three. They are Prof Walter Prendiville, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Coombe Women's Hospital; Dr John Murphy, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street; and Dr Bernard Stuart of the Coombe Women's Hospital.
A report from the fitness to practise inquiry committee will be presented to a full meeting of the Medical Council early next month after which the council will decide what sanctions, if any, should be imposed.
The council can impose a range of sanctions on doctors found guilty of professional misconduct ranging from censure, admonishment or advice, to attaching conditions to the retention of a doctor's name on the medical register, to suspension of the doctor's name from the register for a certain period or striking the doctor's name off the medical register.
Doctors have a right to appeal any decision to the High Court within 21 days of the date of the council's decision to impose a sanction.
A formal complaint was made to the Medical Council about the three obstetricians by Patient Focus last year following publication of the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry report, compiled by Judge Maureen Harding Clark.
The report referred to the fact that the three were asked to conduct a review of the work of Dr Neary after concerns were initially raised about his high rate of hysterectomies, many of which it later transpired were unnecessary.
They reviewed nine cases of Caesarean hysterectomies selected for them by Dr Neary in 1998 and they filed reports after a brief examination of records and found he could continue working.
When interviewed for the Lourdes hospital inquiry, the obstetricians explained that their limited reports were "prepared on a confidential basis to enable Dr Neary to continue working, pending the outcome of the review of his practice by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists".
As a result of their reviews, Dr Neary returned to work at the Lourdes hospital subject to restrictions. But he did not return for long. The then northeastern health board sought the views of Dr Michael Maresh, an obstetrician based in Manchester, and he reviewed the same nine cases and expressed major concerns.
According to Judge Harding Clark's report, the three obstetricians "have had serious regret for their part in producing these reports, which were motivated by compassion and collegiality".
Sheila O'Connor of Patient Focus said last night her group wanted to see transcripts of the inquiry hearings published as the group's representatives had been refused permission to attend the inquiry.
She also said Patient Focus is now seeking an urgent meeting with Minister for Health Mary Harney to discuss why a redress scheme for women damaged by Dr Neary is still not in place.