Press Statement

IRISH SECTION EXPRESSES CONCERN AT PUBLICATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS HOME ADDRESSES

The Irish Section of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has recently contacted the Irish medical Council expressing reservations and concerns about the publication of psychiatrist's home addresses. This applies particularly to trainees who are constantly changing professional addresses.

The Irish Section welcomes openness regarding doctors' qualifications and specialist training. The ability of a member of the public to check these items in an accessible and understandable format is of benefit to all concerned. Unfortunately, the provision of a doctor's home address adds nothing to a patient's knowledge of the doctor's professional training or qualifications.

The Medical Council is under a legal obligation to provide for the publication of the medical register, which includes doctors' registered addresses. This is to be made available to the public for inspection at the council's office and at the head office of every health board. There is no legal obligation on the council to provide this information on the web or over the telephone - however if this is deemed necessary the Irish Section has no objection to the provision of information regarding qualifications in this manner.

Many people use their home address as their registered address for the council - and hopefully with recent publicity and information from the council - they will have changed it to a practice address. Unfortunately, trainees change job so frequently that it is not a realistic option to use their work address. Many use their home address or their family home and parents address.

In psychiatry doctors deal with patients who suffer from psychosis, mania, personality disorder and substance abuse. Many of these may be detained involuntarily and have no insight into their illness and hence may not always have a positive view of their doctors. This combined with easy access to a doctor's home address could have serious consequences and a small number of psychiatrists have had some experience of difficulties in this area.

The division suggests to the council that they continue with the publication and availability of the register, as they are obliged to legally. Provision of details regarding qualifications and specialisation should be more easily accessible to the public as long as home addresses are not provided, as this adds nothing to a patient's knowledge. In the new medical practitioners' act changes should be made to ensure home addresses do not form part of the information in the public domain.

Further information
Young Communications 01-6680530\087-2471520