I am discussing the terms, conditions and duties of the resident physician and governor. Provision is made in the Vote for the payment of salary to the resident physician and governor. I take it I am entitled to discuss the duties of his office, the conditions applying to that office and matters of that kind. I was referring to whether or not he is under an obligation to provide to the Minister or to anyone else clinical information which he has obtained as a doctor in relation to patients within that hospital. The reason I want to refer to that matter and want that matter dealt with by the Minister in concluding this debate is that it was a matter raised with me on many occasions by the Irish Medical Association. I had to consider it very carefully. I considered it in relation to the different posts for which I was, as the present Minister is, responsible. I was unable to find a formula which would completely reconcile the interest of the employer of a medical officer and his obligation in relation to secrecy, so far as his patient was concerned. I was compelled to specify in relation to all these posts the obligation to provide reasonable information.
When I ceased to be Minister, I think it was quite reasonable that the Irish Medical Association should renew their objection on this count to the present Minister. I gather that they did in fact do so.