The Medical Council on Saturday overturned an earlier decision to permanently suspend proceedings against a paediatrician accused of negligence back in 2009.

A mainland couple claim the doctor at Baptist Hospital had been too slow to act on warnings from nurses about the condition of their newborn baby, leading to the boy developing cerebral palsy.

The couple filed a complaint in 2010, but scheduling delays resulted in the matter dragging on and on until last month, when the council's inquiry panel ruled that too much time had passed for the doctor to get a fair hearing.

However, the council later said it would review that decision following criticism from the complainants and patient rights' groups.

During a hearing on Saturday, the council noted that the delays were not the doctor's fault, and that his life and reputation have been damaged by the saga.

But it was also told that the family deserve to know the truth about what happened to the boy who later died, and that fresh proceedings would clear the doctor's name if he was innocent.

After deliberations, the council decided to revoke the earlier ruling to permanently suspend the proceedings against the paediatrician.

The government is also waiting on a report on how the council will improve the way it handles such complaints in future.