http://www.irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=3557

Irishhealth.com
February 20, 2002

Woods not to appeal misconduct finding
by Fergal Bowers

A prominent doctor, who was recently found guilty of professional misconduct for the manner in which she diagnosed alleged child sexual abuse, has opted not to appeal the decision to the High Court. It has also emerged that the Medical Council, which held the inquiry in private has decided not to make the report public, despite being given court authority to do so.

Last month, the Medical Council ruled that Dr Moira Woods, the former head of the sexual assault treatment unit at the Rotunda Hospital was guilty of misconduct on 13 of 55 allegations. The case centred on claims that she had misdiagnosed child sexual abuse in children from a number of families.

She had 21 days in which to appeal the ruling of censure and conditions on her continued practice as a doctor. This deadline has now passed. The Medical Council will now seek to confirm its finding against Dr Woods in the High Court.

While the court has already given it the power to publish the report, with the names of the children and families kept confidential, the Council has decided not to do so. The development is likely to anger some of the families and may lead to further court proceedings to ensure publication.

Also, a promise by the Medical Council to issue an individualised report on the inquiry to each of the five families within a week of the misconduct finding on January 29 has not been kept.

It has also emerged for the first time that Dr Woods opposed plans by the Medical Council to hold the inquiry in public, which she claimed would be 'detrimental to the public interest'. She argued that the identity of the children concerned, some of whom were still minors, would 'become known throughout Ireland and as a result I greatly believe that their physical and mental welfare will suffer'.

The inquiry was held in private after submissions by her and the Eastern Health Board in the High Court.