Madam, - I have always admired Maurice Neligan for his pioneering work in heart surgery and in setting up the Blackrock Clinic. But his column today (March 14th) has gone beyond the ususal curmudgeonly tone, like it or not, of a retired expert.
In his comments on the Lourdes Hospital Report and Dr Michael Neary, he displays the very insensitivity and professional clubbiness that people found so unacceptable in the events documented in the report and in the Medical Council's fitness to practise hearings into Dr Neary. To borrow a phrase, we need to decommission certain mindsets from the past. - Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNY, Ringsend, Dublin 4.
Madam, - Your columnist, heart surgeon Dr Maurice Neligan, this week dismissed Dr Michael Neary's robbery of so many women's fertility as "a lapse, or whatever you want to call it".
He then goes on to dismiss Dr John Hillery, head of the Medical Council, for his plans to check on doctors' continuing competence. Finally, and as ever, he dismisses the Minister for Health in mocking terms.
Dr Neary's despicable actions should be condemned, not brushed aside. Moreover, Ms Harney's endeavours to reform the health service, which allowed his horrendous actions to continue unquestioned for so long, should be encouraged rather than mocked.
I know I'm glad the Department of Health finally seem willing to take on the vested interests of practitioners such as Dr Neligan. - Yours, etc,
EMER HIGGINS, Brittas, Co Dublin.