GP’s social media posts during Covid pandemic undermined public health guidelines, inquiry told
A medical fitness-to-practise committee has adjourned to consider its findings regarding a Cavan -based GP who allegedly posted tweets during the pandemic that were critical of Covid-19 public health policy. Michael McConville, who, before retiring in 2024, was a practitioner in Cavan town, is alleged to have posted tweets relating to the use of PCR testing, Covid-19 vaccinations, the vaccine scheme and the use of face masks, and tweets that promoted the use of ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19. Dr Maria O’Kane, chief executive of the Medical Council is alleging that these tweets, which were 19 in number as well as one retweet, and which were posted between January 4th, 2021, and February 17th, 2022, were inappropriate and undermined public health guidelines and public health authorities. One such tweet was allegedly posted on January 29th, 2022, where it is alleged McConville stated, “when I (reluctantly) gave the first Jab Pfizer knew that their inoculation had already killed nearly 1200 people ... Had I known it, I would never have given it”. The fitness-to-practise committee reconvened online on Wednesday to hear closing submissions from Neasa Bird, barrister for the chief executive, and legal advice from Patricia Dillon, legal assessor. Bird submitted that McConville’s alleged conduct amounted to professional misconduct as both disgraceful or dishonourable and a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected among doctors. Bird also submitted UK case law concerning doctors who were critical of the public health response to Covid-19, including that of a senior locum surgeon who was suspended for posting YouTube videos during the pandemic which, among other claims, denied the existence of Covid-19. The surgeon in that case claimed his suspension violated his right to freedom of expression under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Bird said the court in that case ruled that the right to freedom of expression could be interfered with on the grounds of public safety, the protection of public health and the rights of others. Bird also submitted that the court ruled that the surgeon’s conduct amounted to professional misconduct even though it occurred outside his clinical practice. Bird said McConville had submitted that the tweets he allegedly posted came under his right to freedom of expression. However, Bird submitted that this right was not “unqualified” and could be restricted where it was “lawful and appropriate” to do so. Alan Gallagher, head of communications at the Medical Council, told the committee on May 28th, the second day of the inquiry, that he sent an email to the executive of the Medical Council in January 2021 in which he brought to their attention a selection of tweets that McConville allegedly posted from January 15th, 2021, to December 28th, 2021. The committee heard on Wednesday that it was the Medical Council which made the complaint against McConville. Dillon, in her advice to the committee, said the inquiry was not a criminal process and that McConville was not “an accused person”. She said submissions did not carry the same weight as sworn oral testimony, but the committee could have regard to McConville’s submissions. On the first day of the inquiry on May 27th, McConville, who represented himself, made a lengthy submission to the committee before leaving the inquiry to a round of applause from supporters in attendance. He had informed the committee and Bird beforehand that he would be leaving the inquiry after he made his submission. McConville told the committee he had been practising for 42 years and that there was no patient complaint against him from either the United Kingdom or the Republic. Dr Nick Flynn, a Cork-based GP of 25 years’ experience, was the expert witness for the chief executive and gave evidence on the second day of the inquiry. He agreed with Bird that he found tweets allegedly posted by McConville stating that the motivations of doctors, medical practitioners and scientists were “other than to protect people from harm”, to be “disgraceful or dishonourable” in a professional respect. Flynn also found in his report for the chief executive that the remaining tweets allegedly posted by McConville amounted to conduct in which he had seriously fallen short of the standards expected among doctors. McConville did not attend the online hearings on Tuesday or Wednesday, but Bird told the committee that a transcript of Tuesday’s hearing was emailed to him. The committee adjourned on Wednesday and will deliver its findings at a future date.