Decision on doctor to be made soon

Jan 18, 2010 News

Tortured teen probe…

– Ramsammy

By Latoya Giles

Almost two weeks after the Medical Council submitted its recommendations to him, Minister of Health, Leslie Ramsammy, is still to make a decision on the fate of Police Surgeon Dr. Mahendra Chand for his treatment toward the tortured teen.
The Health Minister told Kaieteur News that the Medical Council, on his recommendation, sent additional information on the case to him last Friday.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Dr. Ramsammy said he would be perusing the documents on Monday and his recommendations would be made public soon.
According to the Health Minister, the process is being dragged out because the Medical Council only meets once a month and he only received the last document on Friday.
Kaieteur News understands that the Medical Council had also provided Dr. Ramsammy with the minutes of its meeting in which the Council had recommended the two-month suspension for Dr. Chand.
Ramsammy said that it was a ‘touchy’ matter and he is dealing with it effectively. He stated that although the Medical Council is an independent body he still has to make recommendations about the matter.
The Minister had earlier stated that after his recommendations were made he would contact the Dr. Chand.
He said that afterwards he would then contact the Ministry of Home Affairs since the doctor was seconded by them to do police medical reports.
Officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) would also be informed because the doctor still receives a salary from that institution.
Kaieteur News was told that Dr. Chand is still assigned to his regular duties for the Guyana Police Force.
After the Council had decided upon its two-month suspension, Dr. Chand was asked to respond in writing to this decision. Officials from the Council said he failed to respond.
Kaieteur News had reported that Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr. Madan Rambarran had proposed to the Guyana Medical Council that Dr. Chand be given “a stern warning,” rather than being suspended.
He has also suggested that the physician, undergo a course on medical ethics, while acknowledging that the doctor’s performance “did not conform to the expected standards of ethical and professional practice”.
Kaieteur News was told that some Council members have also suggested that Dr. Chand be “rotated back” through the hospital and another doctor be assigned to his position as Police Surgeon.