Watching some of his patients die in hospital from AIDS was "like watching my own sons", Prof Ian Temperley told the tribunal yesterday.
In an emotional response to criticism from haemophiliacs of his handling of the HIV crisis, he said he was very upset and unhappy on a personal basis about what had happened.
"I was very emotionally involved. I might not have shown it, but then it is difficult to show your emotions when you're doing a ward round."
Some witnesses had described the doctor as "cold" and "arrogant" and criticised him for failing to counsel them properly or to inform them of the full implications of HIV.
Prof Temperley admitted there were failures in the system which partly stemmed from a lack of resources. Medical practitioners did not fully comprehend what counselling meant at the time. However, he stressed he and other staff did the best under the circumstances. He understood people's "harsh" feelings. "I might feel exactly like them if I was in their position. I understand it, but I have to say something in my own defence from time to time."
The doctor was taken through the evidence of 15 witnesses and offered the opportunity to respond to specific allegations. In a number of instances, he challenged aspects of evidence. In other cases, he merely expressed his condolences to the family of the victim.
In relation to "Arthur", the father of a haemophiliac who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C, Prof Temperley said he believed the centre did its best for him and went to substantial lengths to support his family. He said things were not as bad as appeared in Arthur's statement.
Regarding "Fintan", the first haemophiliac in the State to be diagnosed with AIDS, Prof Temperley admitted he was not told he was HIV-positive. This was because of the patient's young age, he said. Fintan's father was informed of the infection instead.
Prof Temperley paid tribute to the courage of "Dermot", who used to go to hospital for treatment unaided except for a walking stick, this despite the fact that he had had his hip removed. Described by the doctor as "a very fine person", Dermot died aged 39 of AIDS-related illness. "When I saw some of the patients I had known for a long time in bed ill with HIV illnesses, I have said that it was like watching my own sons," said Prof Temperley.
The doctor also expressed his "total admiration" for the nursing staff at the centre who "didn't bat an eyelid" when the rest of the medical community might have run away from HIV.
"It was a terrible tragedy, and I just feel I was caught up in that tragedy and did the best I could under the circumstances."
