Claims that new council's shortened tenure is likely to limit its ability to function adequately
Dr Muiris Houston,
Medical Correspondent
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has rejected claims that a newly elected Medical Council would be rendered ineffective because of his failure to enact new legislation in time for elections later this month. The council is charged with regulating the medical profession and protecting the public interest.
Nominations for election close on January 13th and registered medical practitioners in the State are eligible to vote in a postal ballot.
However, because the Minister has already prepared the heads of a new medical practitioners Bill and has suggested that legislation will be implemented by the end of 2004, it is accepted that the new Medical Council will remain in office for just 18 months, rather than the usual five years. This shortened tenure is likely to limit its ability to function effectively.
The current vice-president of the Medical Council, Dr John Hillery, consultant psychiatrist at Stewarts Hospital, Palmerstown, yesterday called on the Minister to postpone the election and extend the life of the current council until the new Act has been implemented. "It would be logical to continue with the present membership for 18 months or so," he said.
Assuming the election goes ahead, Dr Hillery confirmed he would be a candidate and said "if elected I will put myself forward for president".
Seen as a committed reformer in the mould of the current council president - Dr Gerard Bury is ineligible for election because he has already served two terms - Dr Hillery said it would be good for patients if a number of current council members were re-elected.
Former president of the Irish Medical Organisation and current Medical Council member, Mr Hugh Bredin, consultant urologist at University College Hospital Galway, confirmed that he is considering going forward for a second term.
Another senior Medical Council member, Mr Brendan Healy, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Sligo General Hospital, told The Irish Times he would also seek a second term in office.
A number of medical sources have suggested that the new Medical Council, due to take office in April, will be "a lame duck" unable to engage in professional reform.
"If I were considering going forward for election [to the Medical Council], I would keep my powder dry rather than be part of a council operating under an out-of-date act," a source told The Irish Times.
Rejecting this assertion, a spokeswoman for the Minister said the forthcoming elections will definitely go ahead.
"It will be at least one year before new legislation is enacted," she said, adding that it was the Department of Health's information that a sufficient numbers of doctors had already put their names forward. As presently constituted, the Medical Council has 25 members.