The Clinical Indemnity Scheme has been criticized in The Irish Times today for granting anonymity to medical professionals. The State Claims Agency has operated the Clinical Indemnity Scheme since 2002 for all medical malpractice cases taken against hospitals and doctors. The State Claims Agency ‘assumes responsibility for the vicarious negligence by act or omission on the part of doctors, nurses, midwives and allied healthcare professionals”
The State Claims Agency has advised solicitors that it is ‘neither necessary nor appropriate” to include the names of doctors in medical malpractice documentation.
This means that negligent doctors are effectively protected from public record unless the lawsuit is heard in the High Court. The vast majority of medical malpractice cases, like most other types of personal injury cases, are settled prior to going to court .
This effectively means that medical professions are granted anonymity for their negligent actions.