Moral Panic - Child Sexual Abuse
	Professional Misconduct - Moira Woods
	Index 2002
	The Irish Times March 13, 2002 Dr Woods And Medical Council Letter to the Editor by Edward P. Hernon, Chairman, Vocal-Ireland, Basin Street Upper, Dublin 8 I refer to the letter from Nora Geraghty regarding Dr Moira Woods and the Medical Council, (February 26th). The complainants involved in the inquiry were most disappointed at Dr Woods's decision not to appeal the findings and recommendations imposed on her by the Fitness to Practise Committee of the Medical Council. An appeal would have ensured a re-hearing of the particular cases in the High Court - and, more importantly, in public, exactly as the complainants and the Medical Council wanted in the first place. While we note Ms Geraghty's concern for Dr Woods and her family having to live with the inquiry for 10 years, we also note the lack of concern or compassion for those who were wrongly accused. Ms Geraghty implies that Dr Woods was not found guilty of false accusations of child sexual abuse, but of procedural lapses on a minority of points. The Fitness to Practise Committee, by a majority, thought otherwise in a number of cases. Ms Geraghty also says Dr Woods is a well qualified doctor who could have made a lot of money quietly from private patients. While Dr Woods was a qualified doctor, her qualifications in the area of investigating and validation of alleged cases of child sexual abuse left a lot to be desired. And money was not a problem or priority for Dr Woods. Ms Geraghty asks if all those who were involved in the cases considered in the inquiry are now open to the possibility of an investigation into their work, followed by media publicity. The answer to Ms Geraghty's question is a resounding yes.