25 June

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Law firm on negligence cases: Doctors don’t testify against colleagues

A disciplinary complaint against Freedom House Law Chambers (FHLC) filed by claimants who believed they had a chance of winning their medical negligence case against the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) has been dismissed. In response to a Sunday Guardian story entitled “Angry Dad: Law Firm Playing Politics”, FHLC described as “scurrilous, irresponsible and unprofessional” claims made about itshandling of a medical negligence case. In a statement yesterday, the law firm contended that such cases are “notoriously difficult” to win because “doctors do not testify against doctors.” “In order to succeed victims/prospective claimants must obtain expert medical opinion from experienced...

25 June

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A BROADER VISION OF JUSTICE

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in Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Newspaper Articles

The language of “justice” is increasingly being used in the public discourse. Listening to most radio talk shows, one could ascertain that justice is no longer solely the jargon of either members of the legal fraternity or human rights activists. In fact, many street protests in the aftermath of police killings, medical negligence and the like are often punctuated with the cry, “We want justice”. If Aristotle’s description of justice as “to each is due” is what we mean by justice and it is becoming part of the language and consciousness of individuals and/or groups, we are indeed on the right...

25 June

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AG: NOT ONLY DOC TO BLAME

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in MEDICAL COMPLAINTS COUNCIL CASES

THE role of everyone involved in the death of a seven-month-old male foetus which died while its mother was undergoing a Caesarian-section at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, will be examined, as the doctor who performed the surgery may not be the only one to be blamed, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan says. “The role of everyone, consultants and the interaction among those who comprised the team,” Ramlogan said, “will have to be examined as it may not be one person to blame for the death of the baby.” The baby received a gash on his head while the Caesarian-section was being performed on...

24 June

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DOCTORS FACE LAWSUIT OVER FINGER

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in MEDICAL COMPLAINTS COUNCIL CASES

A 25-year-old Point Lisas technician has threatened to filed a negligence lawsuit against a father and son medical team over the loss of his finger. Kevin Persad, 25, of Cunupia, through his attorneys Martin George and Company, has issued a pre-action protocol letter to the doctors who operate a southern based private clinic. Persad said his right index finger had to be amputated in the United States (US), last year, after several failed operations at the private medical facility. According to the pre-action protocol letter, Persad suffered injury to both his hands while at work on April 17, 2014. He was admitted to the...

24 June

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FINDINGS PLEASE

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in Case Histories

WHAT have been the findings of the independent investigative team appointed to probe the deaths of 35-year-old Leciana Mitchell-Sheppard and her baby boy Ajani Merrie, as well as several other instances of maternal/infant deaths at Tobago? Since November, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) appointed doctor and lawyer Albert Persad to chair an independent investigative team into the deaths of Mitchell-Sheppard, her son Ajani and two other mothers and their babies. This team was given a two-week time frame within which to report. Five months later, we are yet to have answers. Mitchell-Sheppard, of Zion Hill, Belle Garden, Tobago, died on October...

24 June

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PSC seeks answers from cops

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in Police Service Commission

CHAIRMAN of the Police Service Commission, Dr Maria Therese Gomes, has written the Police Service seeking answers over a series of questions relating to Monday’s police blockade, including why the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) intelligence agencies did not anticipate it. Gomes, chairman of the Constitutional body with oversight of the Police Service, wrote Acting Commissioner of Police Ann Marie Alleyne-Daly on March 25 calling for a report. The letter requested information and raised concerns as follows: 1. How could such a well-executed and coordinated exercise be undertaken without the knowledge of TTPS intelligence? 2. When the Executive found out about the...

23 June

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THA VS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

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in Case Histories

Case Name: The Tobago House of Assembly v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago CV 2013/00153 Date: 10th June, 2015 Appearances: Phillip Lamont led by Elton Prescott S.C. instructed by Dorill-Ann Lamont for the Claimant Larry Lalla and Martin George (in Tobago) led by Seenath Jairam S.C instructed by Kamala Mohammed-Carter and Savitri Maharaj for the Defendant Case Summary: The Tobago House of Assembly (hereinafter referred to as the “THA") is a statutory body created under the Tobago House of Assembly Act 1980 ("hereinafter referred to as the THA Act"). In its infancy, the THA did not have...

23 June

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T&T SIGNS ON TO CHILD-ABDUCTION PACT

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in Laws of Trinidad and Tobago

AFTER 18 months of discussion, Trinidad and Tobago has been accepted by the United States to the accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects on International Child Abduction. The announcement was one of several made yesterday following talks between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and US Vice-President Joe Biden at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. The accession, which makes T&T the 69th to be accepted by the US, would have happened sooner as the US expressed interest in partnering with Trinidad and Tobago. However, discussions only began in November 2011 when the head of the central authority was appointed. According to...

23 June

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BABY LOSES ARM Mom calls for probe after amputation of newborn son’s limb due to rupturing of vein during IV procedure

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in MEDICAL COMPLAINTS COUNCIL CASES

A Clear Case Of Medical Negligence A premature baby boy has lost his left arm due to alleged negligence at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital. The two-month old baby, who is battling a fungal infection at the hospital, underwent emergency surgery yesterday to remove the arm from the shoulder. The procedure was necessary as the child’s vein was ruptured while being administered intravenous fluid, causing the soft tissues in his arm to die, his relatives were told. The baby’s teenage mother was not satisfied with the treatment he received at the hospital and has demanded a thorough investigation. The...

23 June

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A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

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in Events, Occasions, Anniversaries and Celebrations, Newspaper Articles

I could never have imagined that I would be writing this column so soon; not today, not this month, not this year, not even this decade. I could never have imagined that I would be writing this column so soon; not today, not this month, not this year, not even this decade. Mommy was not ailing; she was not laid up. She was hale and hearty and active, barring a few complications that are expected as one approaches 84. We had big plans for the celebration of her 84th birthday on February 23. Instead, this past week, our family was making funeral...

June 2015