Dr Mary Henry (Ind) called for an explanation by the Minister for Health as to why he would not allow any updating of legislation covering the Medical Council - which the council had sought - particularly that relating to sick doctors as opposed to practitioners who were bad doctors. A debate on such matters would be useful, she suggested.
Dr Henry joined with other members in expressing concerns about a range of issues such as human cloning and the controversy over alleged questionable Caesarean hysterectomies.
Mr Joe Costello (Lab) said various allegations had been strewn all over the newspapers concerning a consultant who had performed a number of hysterectomies following Caesarean deliveries. The House should be given a statement to ensure there were proper procedures in all hospitals throughout the State. Mr Fergus O'Dowd (FG) asked the Leader of the House to bring to the attention of the Minister the items in Monday's and Tuesday's editions of The Irish Times and the urgent need to review procedures to ensure that a second opinion was obtained in such cases. The fact that a number of women had been informed that operations they had undergone might not have been necessary was a matter of grave concern to them and to all members of health boards and to public representatives generally.
Mr Labhras O Murchu (FF) called for a debate on matters of ethics and medical science, especially in the area of questionable experimentation.
The House should take seriously what had been said by the scientific adviser to the British government, that the first cloned human could be created in the next few months.
Ms Ann Leonard (FF) said the recent allegations about Caesarean hysterectomies were worrying for any woman who had to have a Caesarean section. It was important to remember that this procedure took place for the benefit of the mother and the child.
Mr Pat Gallagher (Lab) said the lack of a statement on the matter made the range of worry wider than it needed to be. As many facts as possible should be made available about the investigations that had been undertaken. This could help to clarify the situation of people who might have been subjected unnecessarily to procedures and it might reassure those who had not been.
Supporting the call by Mr O Murchu for a debate on cloning, Dr Henry said it should be extended to include the possibility of getting legislation on in vitro fertilisation. The Leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, undertook to bring to the Minister's attention all the concerns that had been voiced by senators, with a view to seeing if an early debate could be arranged.