Voting is now underway for elections to the Medical Council after nominations closed for three key positions.
With the new term of the Council expected to begin in June, registered medical practitioners (as at midday on January 22) will be entitled to vote electronically in the election, via the Medical Council’s website.
Eligible voters will receive an email with a link to cast their vote. Results of the election will be announced on February 26, while the newly appointed Council members will begin their term on June 1.
Doctors can vote representatives in three specialist divisions: anaesthesia; public health medicine; and pathology or radiology.
There are five nominees to choose from in the anaesthesia category:
Dr Brian Patrick Joseph O’Brien – Registration Number: 018422
Dr David Michael Honan – Registration Number: 013213
Dr Ehtesham Izhar Khan – Registration Number: 049848
Dr Georgina Flood – Registration Number: 321315
Dr Khalid Rasheed – Registration Number: 021642
Public health medicine has two nominees:
Dr Mai Mannix, Registration Number: 011309
Dr Ina Mary Kelly, Registration Number: 011181
Pathology or radiology has just one candidate: Prof John Conor O’Keane, Registration Number: 008071. As a result, this category will be filled in accordance with election regulations.
“The Medical Council plays a vital role in ensuring patient safety. Council members hold responsibility for making decisions and upholding principles that protect patients and support the highest standards of medical practice,” said Dr Maria O’Kane, CEO of the Medical Council.
“This election provides a valuable opportunity for doctors to influence the future direction of the Medical Council by helping to select their representatives. I would urge all registered doctors to vote and have their say.
“We are fortunate to have a number of very strong candidates contesting the election, who have been nominated by their peers. This reflects the continued commitment within the profession to build on the progress achieved in recent years. I encourage all doctors to use their vote in the weeks ahead.”
The Medical Council consists of 25 members, including 13 non-medical and 12 medical members.
Of these, six members are elected by their fellow registered medical practitioners, five are appointed by the Minister for Health, one being nominated by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the remaining 13 are appointed by nominating bodies.
The current term of office of one of the directly elected members of the Medical Council is due to expire on May 31. This position, along with two existing vacancies on the Medical Council, are subject to an election process in accordance with the Medical Council’s election regulations.
Original source: ie