asked the Minister for Health if he will make it henceforward a condition of service for dispensary doctors, and their successors under the Health Act, 1970, to attend at accidents without inquiring as to whether the victim holds a medical card.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Attendance by Doctors at Accidents.
4.
I am not satisfied that the imposition of a duty of this nature on one specific class of doctor is either desirable on general grounds or legally possible.
Is the Minister aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction in County Westmeath because there is no obligation on a dispensary doctor to attend accident cases? Would he not do something to ensure that accident cases would be dealt with promptly?
I have had very few complaints of this kind and I imagine that the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union would be of the opinion that, at the moment, the vast majority of doctors are responsible and take the necessary action to attend to patients who have been involved in accidents.
Is the Minister aware that quite a number of doctors are not prepared to go out and attend to accident cases? On at least three occasions while travelling in different parts of the country, I came on the scene of an accident and each time on going to a doctor's home to seek help I was asked by whom the doctor would be paid. Surely the Minister realises that if any one of us should be involved in an accident tonight, no doctor is obliged to attend to us? Would a person arriving at the scene of an accident be expected to go to the victim's home to search his pockets in an effort to find out if he was the holder of a medical card? The law in this respect should be changed immediately.
Did the Minister say he had knowledge of a few cases?
One case.
What action did the Minister take in that instance? Is there not more respect for the blue card in the case of animals than there is for medical card holders?
I have never known a veterinary surgeon to refuse to answer a call.
If the practice were widespread, I am sure that I would receive widespread representation in regard to it and, naturally, I would take action. However, having had only one representation, the matter could be left to the discretion of the doctors.
Is it not the present position that no doctor is obliged to go to the scene of an accident and that a doctor cannot be held responsible even if it is proved that he was aware that the person was a medical card holder at the time of his refusal to attend?
As I said, there is no evidence to indicate that people have suffered gravely because of the non-availability of doctors. If I had such evidence, I would take the matter up with the Medical Association.
Now is the time.