DOCTORS WORKING in Ireland who graduated outside the State were almost five times more likely to face a fitness-to-practise inquiry if complaints were made against them compared with doctors who graduated in Ireland, an analysis of Medical Council figures for 2011 shows.
Of the 314 complaints about Irish-graduated doctors dealt with by the council’s preliminary proceedings committee (PPC) last year, 13, or 4.1 per cent, were recommended to be dealt with by a full fitness-to-practise inquiry.
But of the 115 complaints about doctors who graduated outside Ireland, 25, or 21.7 per cent, were recommended for a full inquiry.
Nearly 19,000 doctors are registered to practise in Ireland, of whom more than 12,000 graduated in Ireland. Nearly 5,000 graduated outside the EU. A further 1,500 graduated in an EU country or a country recognised in the EU for the purposes of registration.
Countries outside Ireland with the largest number of doctors on the register were Pakistan, with 1,313; South Africa, with 1,105; the UK, with 689; Sudan, with 546; and India, with 511.
Based on the figures, one in every 38 Irish-graduated doctors on the register had a complaint against him or her considered by the committee last year, compared with one in every 57 doctors who graduated outside Ireland.
Taken with the numbers referred to fitness-to-practise inquiries, it would suggest that while doctors who graduated in Ireland had a higher likelihood of being complained about, they had a lower likelihood of being referred to a fitness-to-practise inquiry.
The PPC holds its deliberations in private. It examines complaints from a variety of sources including patients, pharmacists, other doctors and the families of deceased patients.
Following consideration of the complaints, if the committee believes there is a prima facia case for a fitness-to-practise inquiry it refers the matter to the fitness-to-practise committee.
If it decides not to refer the complaint, it will give an opinion to the Medical Council that it should take no further action or that the complaint should be referred to another body or to the council’s professional competence scheme. It can also recommend the complaint be resolved by mediation or other informal methods.
The council then considers this opinion and may take the committee’s advice or refer the complaint to the fitness-to-practise committee for inquiry.
It takes about five months from receipt of a complaint to a decision being made about whether to refer it for inquiry.
The council’s 2011 report also showed that just under one-quarter, or 104, of the complaints considered by the committee were made against women but only three were referred to the fitness- to-practice committee. More than 7,400 doctors registered to work in Ireland last year were women.
Eight doctors were struck off last year after appearing before a fitness-to-practise committee. A further six doctors had conditions imposed such as a requirement to attend training courses or referral for treatment. Another 15 were censured or admonished.
Of 32 doctors referred to the council’s health subcommittee, 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 majority of complaints dealt with by the PPC last year were either about professional standards or treatment received. A small number related to irresponsible prescribing.
