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.