Sir, - You reported (November 21st) that the Medical Council recently censured the psychiatrist Professor Ivor Browne for speaking last year in support of his patient, Ms Phyllis Hamilton, in the matter of her relationship with the late Fr Michael Cleary, the existence of which relationship had been denied by others.
Professor Browne acted in the interest of his patient, which you say is one of four grounds upon which a doctor is professionally allowed to talk about a patient. He also acted for the welfare of society (another of the four grounds) and told the truth as he knew it, even at his own risk.
I don't think this is a matter of science or medical practice in which the Medical Council might be thought to have expertise. It is one of society and justice. The Medical Council should act (if at all) only when it has shown that it has taken account of all the opinions that fair judgment requires.
Otherwise its opinion is no better than that of any secret cabal. I have more confidence in Professor Browne than in the Medical Council. - Yours etc,
Sandymount Avenue,
Dublin 4.