MEDICAL BOARD HAS GROUNDS TO PROBE COCAINE SURGERY

The Medical Board must be compelled to act upon the Attorney General’s call for an investigation into the cocaine surgery matter.

On Monday, the AG indicated that he had written to the President of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Samuel Ramsewak, requesting a probe into the medical professionals who performed the surgery to remove 17 cocaine pellets from a man’s stomach at the St. Augustine Private Hospital last December.

Attorney Martin George said under Chapter 29:50 of the Medical Board Act, the powers, duties and statutory responsibilities are clearly defined.

He also cited what he said was a precedent case in Dr. Godfrey Rajkumar vs the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago in which the doctor was struck off the Medical Registry for infamous and disgraceful conduct.

He said if the Board refuses to act, the AG can invoke the assistance of the court.

“So the Attorney General’s call actually is one which finds resonance in the precedent in the cases that are before the courts, decided cases, whereby you can call upon the Medical Board to investigate certain things and if they fail to do so, you can actually take legal action and force and compel them to do and to exercise their statutory functions.”

Attorney George said doctor-patient confidentiality is not a satisfactory defense in this case.

He referred to another precedent case of Bernard Mohammed Ali vs the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago in which it was decided that the Board is considered a Public Authority and must, therefore, be accountable to the public.

As such, it cannot withhold medical records or patient logs

“In this case, I think the interest of the public must outweigh and must take precedence and as a result, I think the Medical Board will have no choice but to act in this matter now that they have a formal complaint and request by the Attorney General.”

 

Written by C News