The medical regulator in Ireland has the power to suspend doctors when they feel that is necessary to protect patient safety and the public. That power is what gives the regulator teeth, and it is unusual to see doctors flagrantly ignore an Irish Medical Council suspension. 

But that’s precisely what happened, as we found out this week,  after the High Court granted an application by the Medical Council to make public the suspension the registration of a certain Dr Regine Grah, in order to stop her from practising medicine while a fitness-to-practise complaint made against her is under way.