Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——the tactics in which the Opposition is engaged, concerns best practice in the review of these matters. Best practice has been outlined by the expert clinical advice available.

The Portlaoise situation involved established misdiagnoses and making arrangements to have a number of patients re-examined in the Cuisle Centre. The principle in this case is precautionary. More than 200,000 X-rays are carried out in the hospital in Drogheda each year. A locum's work in four cases came under the scrutiny of a consultant at the hospital.

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