THE processing of complaints about doctors to the Medical Council will be subject to long delays because of a Supreme Court appeal by one doctor, the chairwoman of the Fitness to Practise Committee has said.
Dr Patricia Casey said yesterday the committee was not in a position to hold inquiries until the outcome of the appeal by a doctor to the Supreme Court to have his case heard in public was known. The case is being taken by Dr James Barry, a Cork GP.
"It will create huge logistical problems in terms of the work of the committee. It could be the autumn or later before we have the judgment," said Dr Casey.
There are 18 inquiries awaiting hearing but all are delayed pending the Supreme Court decision.
When asked about the abortion alleged to have taken place at the Marie Slopes Clinic in Dublin, Prof Gerard Bury, chairman of the Medical Council, said it had always been the committee's policy not to comment on whether a complaint had been received against a particular doctor.
Neither was it appropriate to enter into a discussion of the Medical Council's ethical guidelines in this area, he said, but he added that the issue would be discussed privately "given the current circumstances
Prof Bury said that while there would be a delay in the hearing of Fitness to Practise inquiries, this did not preclude the committee continuing its monitoring role.
He said it wanted to encourage any individual or institution who felt they had an issue they would like addressed - by the council and particularly the Fitness to Practise Committee - to come forward.
Last year, the Medical Council received 173 complaints. In 1995, 221 complaints were received, but a number of these were made against one doctor.
Prof Casey confirmed that people had expressed concern about the length of time it takes for a complaint to be processed.