Madam, - My interest was piqued by the furore surrounding the comments made by Minister of State for Health Tim O'Malley to the effect that some psychiatric consultants created artificially long waiting lists for reasons of self-importance.
Why, I wondered, would he say such a thing?
Ignorance, perhaps? Hardly. Mr O'Malley is a pharmacist of many years' experience who, as a medical insider, would be well aware of the attitude of doctors towards their patients in a wide variety of disciplines.
Political naivety, then? No, the Minister is an astute politician. He knew he would be attacked, both by an increasingly desperate Opposition and, regrettably, by some doctors - who, we know since the Neary affair, will attempt to defend the indefensible.
Indifference to the job, maybe? Definitely not. When Mary Harney, then both his party leader and direct boss, suggested that he move sideways because two PDs in the same Department might not be the best mix, fought to stay and continue his work due to a personal commitment to reforming the public health sector.
So if it's not lack of passion for the job, and it's not ignorance of how the system works, and it's not political naivety, then I can only conclude that the man is telling the truth. He certainly hit a nerve, which is always interesting.
Mr O'Malley is doing what he was elected to do: telling it as he sees it. - Yours, etc,
JAMES O'SULLIVAN, Ennis Road, Limerick.
Madam, - As a doctor and a member of the Progressive Democrats I read with disbelief the remarks made by Minister Tim O'Malley about consultant psychiatrists. The Minister has said he believes some of them allow patients to linger on waiting lists because it makes them "feel powerful". This statement has been flatly rejected by the HSE.
The Minister clearly would like us to conclude that doctors derive some form of evil professional satisfaction from watching patients suffer. It is difficult to imagine a more despicable slur against the medical profession. Has the Minister heard of the Hippocratic Oath, which includes the phrase "never do harm to anyone"?
The Minister presides over long waiting-lists as a result of decades of administrative incompetence and inadequate resources. His cowardly attempt to evade responsibility for this and to instead blame dedicated professionals is simply outrageous.
Mr O'Malley should apologise or resign from office. - Yours, etc,
Dr RUAIRI HANLEY, Fitzwilliam Court, Drogheda, Co Louth.