A Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry has opened in Dublin into allegations concerning registered doctor Prof Dana Flavin and information published on her website regarding cancer immune-support treatments.

The committee heard that the allegations center on online information published between September 2021 and April 2023, during a period when Prof Flavin was providing treatment to a patient suffering from localised breast cancer. According to details presented by Hugh McDowell, barrister for the chief executive of the Medical Council, Prof Flavin failed to clearly disclose potential risks associated with immune-support treatments on her website.

It is further alleged that Prof Flavin failed to state clearly on the website that immune-support therapies ought to be undertaken in addition to, and not as a replacement for, conventional cancer treatments. The inquiry heard claims that the online information was not verifiable and was capable of raising unrealistic expectations among patients, in alleged breach of the Medical Council's guide to professional conduct and ethics. Her conduct is alleged to amount to poor professional conduct. An allegation regarding the direct provision of immune-support treatment to a patient, referred to in proceedings as Patient A, was withdrawn.

Prof Flavin did not attend the hearing on Monday and was not legally represented. The fitness-to-practise panel stated it was satisfied that all reasonable efforts had been made to notify her of the proceedings and determined there was no good reason to adjourn the hearing. Evidence submitted to the panel indicated Prof Flavin obtained medical registration in Ireland in 2018, noting at the time that she regularly visited the country to give lectures and advise professional colleagues.