A NEW REDRESS scheme is to open for women who underwent unnecessary operations under Dr Michael Neary.
The new scheme is aimed at women who were over the age of 40 when the surgery was carried out on them and who were excluded from the original compensation scheme, which was introduced after the full extent of Neary’s actions became public.
It is estimated that there are around 35 women who will qualify with each likely to receive between €60,000 and €100,000.
Ads were placed in national newspapers this morning to inform the women about the new scheme.
Neary was struck off the medical register in 2003 and became the subject of a government inquiry which found that he had carried out almost 200 unnecessary peripartum hysterectomies and dozens of unnecessary oophorectomies, which involve the removal of a woman’s ovaries, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda over the course of his 25 year career there. The surgeries rendered women menopausal and stopped them from having more children.
The inquiry into his actions found that he often carried out the surgeries on the basis of a diagnosis that was little more than a clinical “hunch” and that they were medically unwarranted. He has never faced criminal prosecution for his actions.
His actions came to light after two midwives working at the maternity unit at the hospital raised concerns that the surgeon was carrying out an unusually high number of hysterectomies and over his out of date clinical practices.
The Government approved the new scheme in July of this year. Around 200 patients received compensation under the original Lourdes Hospital redress scheme.
Applications can be made from tomorrow and the scheme will remain open to applications for 30 days.
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