Claims Ireland

Consultants Seek Medical Court to tackle Litigation

15-Jan-2006

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15 January 2006

Hospital consultants will ask the government to stem the rising cost of medical litigation by introducing a compensation body modelled on the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). 

Finbarr Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA), said the only way to redress the huge insurance burden on the taxpayer and private consultants was for claims to be heard speedily by a dedicated medical court.

Under the IHCA's proposal the review panel would be staffed by a senior counsel and two physicians, one of whom would represent the plaintiff.

The IHCA has already had an informal discussion with Minister for Health Mary Harney, who signalled a willingness to review the controversial subject.