A new deal between the Department of Health and a medical defence organisation providing malpractice insurance may pose a threat to patient confidentiality, it has been claimed.
Dr Christine Tomkins, of the Medical Defence Union (MDU), said the agreement between the Department and the Medical Protection Society (MPS) to ensure continued professional insurance for obstetricians meant "the question of patient confidentiality is of definite concern to doctors and patients".
She confirmed the MDU had brought the agreement to the attention of the Medical Council, which is responsible for formulating ethical guidelines for the medical profession, "since questions of patient confidentiality may arise".
The confidential agreement, a copy of which has been seen by The Irish Times, was prompted by a MDU decision to increase indemnity cover for consultant obstetricians from €86,342 to €499,000 in 2001.
A clause in the agreement states that the MPS will supply to the Department of Health "all details reasonably required by the Department of relevant civil claims and incidents reported".
It says the Department will have the right to audit the files of the MPS relating to civil claims. Such information would normally include the name of the patient and details of their medical history, which would give the Department unprecedented access to information normally protected by doctor-patient confidentiality.
But Mr John Lambe, marketing manager of the MPS, denied that the agreement would allow the MPS to pass on such confidential information.