A doctor well known for treating drug addicts in Dublin city centre has had restrictions imposed on his right to treat patients by the Medical Council.
Following a complaint received by the council, a number of conditions were attached to Dr Niall O'Cleirigh continuing to work as a doctor, including that he shall not prescribe the pain-killing drug Pethidine.
The council released the names of seven doctors yesterday who had appeared before its Fitness to Practise Committee. Two had their names erased from the medical register, prohibiting them from practising as doctors - Dr Patrick Doyle, Sleepy Hollow, Woodlawn, Model Farm Road, Cork and Dr Patrick Whelan, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
It is not known why the names of these doctors were removed. Mr William Kennedy, the Medical Council's administrator and legal adviser, said the reasons were not being made public. It was at the discretion of the Medical Council to reveal the nature of the complaints and they had chosen not to do so, he said. Nor is it known the nature of the complaints against the other four doctors. Dr Margaret O'Regan, from Ivyville, Douglas Road, Cork, was suspended for one month. A number of conditions were attached to her continuing to practise including that she should not prescribe controlled drugs as identified in the Schedules of the Misuse of Drugs Act; should be prohibited from keeping controlled drugs in her possession; should enter an appropriate course of treatment under the care of a consultant psychiatrist with established expertise in the care of drugs misuse.
Dr O'Regan was also instructed to make herself available for medical examination "as and when the Medical Council shall direct" including urin-analysis. She was also directed to continue to maintain "adequate and full medical records" of her patients to the satisfaction of the Medical Council and to make them available to a representative of the council. These conditions are to be reviewed in 12 months.
One of the conditions imposed on Dr James Crehan, Kilcoolaght House, St Anne's Road, Killarney, Co Kerry, was that he should refrain from drinking alcohol at all times and continue in an aftercare programme. He was instructed to continue to take medication as prescribed for treatment of his alcohol misuse and to attend AA meetings at least once a week.
Dr Crehan was directed to prepare a programme of continuing education to focus on the maintenance of good quality care for his patients. He was censured in relation to his professional conduct.
Dr O'Cleirigh was also censured in relation to his professional conduct. He was directed to continue providing urin-analysis to the National Drug Treatment Centre Board twice weekly.
Dr O'Cleirigh, who has an address at Grosvenor Place, Rathmines, was also directed to attend a medical addiction group.
Dr Patrick O'Connor, Butter field Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin, received a suspension of six months. He was censured in relation to his professional conduct. Under the conditions of his continuing to practise he was instructed to practise medicine in a group setting and a doctor within that group to supervise his professional conduct. A nominated doctor within the group should be willing, and have Dr O'Connor's permission, to respond to requests from the council on his professional conduct. The conditions will be reviewed by the council in five years time. The High Court has ordered that it will be for Dr O'Connor to submit a proposal as to the implementation of the conditions. Doctor John Flynn, from Glebe House, Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, received a censure from the Medical Council in March.
The council administrator and legal adviser, Mr Kennedy, said over 200 complaints are received against doctors each year and on average 10 per cent of these result in a Fitness to Practise hearing.
The hearings are similar to a court hearing with the doctor represented by a solicitor and barrister and similar representation for the council registrar on behalf of the complainant. A legal assessor guides the committee on rules of evidence and other technicalities.
The committee's findings are brought before the full Medical Council, at their quarterly meetings, and a sanction is decided upon. Doctors may have their names erased from the medical register, disallowing them from practising, be suspended for a fixed period, or have conditions attached to their practising as a doctor.
Under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, these must be brought before the High Court for approval within 21 days during which time the doctor may challenge the decision.