New investigation shows doctors sanctioned abroad able to practise in Ireland

In the News podcast: Eleven doctors who faced disciplinary action in UK remain registered in State

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Ophthalmologist Gavriel Simha Furedi obtained his Irish licence in January 2021 shortly after formal complaints were first made about him by colleagues in a Norwegian hospital. Source: ScapaDeOchelari Facebook page
Ophthalmologist Gavriel Simha Furedi was struck off in Norway 2021 but was licensed in Ireland until being struck off in 2023. Source: Facebook

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.

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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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