Investigation: How doctors sanctioned abroad are still free to practise in Ireland

How can it happen that a doctor who has been sanctioned or even struck-off in one country can simply move to another and continue working?

Shouldn’t the various medical registration bodies have robust recording and information sharing systems that would make that impossible. Most patients will assume that to be the case but a new global investigation has found serious flaws in the system.

And it is happening in Ireland: 11 doctors who have faced serious sanctions in the UK, including being struck off, remain registered in Ireland.

In each case, the UK sanction was not recorded on the doctor’s publicly available record published by the Medical Council.

The information comes from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which in the past has investigated transnational criminal gangs and drug cartels but in recent months has turned its attention to doctor registration.

Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher joined international journalists from more than 50 other media outlets to uncover this very real threat to patient safety. He explains the findings of the report particularly as they relate to Ireland.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.

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