Courts / Kildare / Report
GP alleged to have described Covid-19 as 'hoax' is suspended from practising
Summary
In a High Court ruling, Justice Mary Irvine ordered the temporary suspension of Dr Gerard Waters, a GP in Celbridge, following a patient complaint that he had told the patient that Covid‑19 was a hoax and that government measures were harmful. The patient, who had sought treatment for a suspected chest infection, claimed Dr Waters had denied a Covid‑19 test, spread misinformation about masks and the virus, and suggested that deaths were not caused by Covid‑19. Dr Waters admitted expressing his views but said he did so professionally and only to patients seeking his opinion. The Medical Council, after receiving the complaint, requested assurances that he would follow HSE guidelines; when these were deemed insufficient, it applied to the High Court for suspension under the 2007 Medical Practitioners Act. Justice Irvine found the allegations serious enough to justify a temporary suspension pending further disciplinary proceedings. The order remains in effect until the outcome of those proceedings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: GP alleged to have described Covid-19 as 'hoax' is suspended from practising. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 2021-04-14 Publication
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