The High Court has directed the Medical Council to erase the name of Co Louth consultant obstetrician Dr Michael Neary from its register.
This follows the finding by the Medical Council's Fitness to Practice Committee that Dr Neary was guilty of professional misconduct arising from the removal of the wombs of 10 women.
Today's confirmation of Dr Neary's striking off is the culmination of a process which began in late 1998.
The Fitness to Practice Committee convened in April 2000 to conduct an inquiry which sat for 37 days over two years and 10 months. Evidence was heard from 23 witnesses.
A section of the report opened in the High Court today reveals that there was no evidence to justify any demonisation or vilification of Dr Neary.
The evidence discloses a series of what are called profound errors of judgement with very serious consequences for each of the patients involved.
It highlights an absence of insight and objectivity and an absence of any mechanism either in the hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, or elsewhere to ensure such errors as occurred might be corrected.
The report also points out that there was no mechanism for any proper monitoring of adverse or unusual outcomes.
The High Court confirmation of the Medical Council decision to erase Dr Neary from the register clears the way for the report to be made public. This is expected to happen within the next few days.
Over 60 women are pursuing civil actions against Dr Neary and indications are that a public inquiry will now be established into the activities of the retired consultant.
