Reaction of doctors in Neary case 'disgraceful'

One of the women who complained to the medical council about the three obstetricians who provided reports in 1998 exonerating…

One of the women who complained to the medical council about the three obstetricians who provided reports in 1998 exonerating the practice of Drogheda obstetrician Dr Michael Neary said yesterday she could not understand the doctors' reaction to having been found guilty of professional misconduct.

Cathriona Molloy from Kells, Co Meath, also said she felt it was absolutely disgraceful the three doctors hadn't showed any remorse or regret for what they had done.

Instead the doctors - Prof Walter Prendiville, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Coombe Women's Hospital; Dr John Murphy, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street; and Dr Bernard Stuart of the Coombe hospital - had issued a statement saying they believed the finding by the medical council against them was "fundamentally wrong".

Ms Molloy said they seemed more concerned about their reputations than what happened patients.

READ MORE

Her womb was removed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital by Dr Neary after the birth of her second child in 1996. She was 25-years-old.

Her records were among those of nine patients that the three obstetricians were asked to review after concerns were initially raised about Dr Neary's high rate of hysterectomies. The three produced reports that found Dr Neary should be allowed continue working. But when the same nine cases were later reviewed by a British expert, he expressed major concerns and Dr Neary was suspended. Dr Neary was subsequently struck off the medical register for unnecessarily removing the wombs of all nine women.

An inquiry into what happened at the Lourdes hospital by Judge Maureen Harding Clark, published last year, noted that the three obstetricians "have had serious regret for their part in producing these reports, which were motivated by compassion and collegiality".

Following the publication of that report, Ms Molloy and two others asked the medical council to investigate the three obstetricians and on Tuesday the council recorded a finding of professional misconduct against them.

It is not yet known if the doctors will appeal the ruling.

Martina Clarke from Baileboro in Cavan, whose file was also among the nine reviewed by the three doctors, said she hoped the fact that they had been named and shamed would be enough to prevent other doctors acting on the basis of collegiality in future.

Minister for Health Mary Harney said the council's finding against "three of the country's most imminent and distinguished obstetricians" was very serious. She too was surprised at their reaction to the finding against them.

A redress scheme for the women damaged by Dr Neary would be in place by St Patrick's Day, she said.

Meanwhile, transcripts of the fitness to practice inquiry into the three are unlikely to be published for some days yet, the medical council said.