EVERY ONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE BUT MUST EARN THAT CHANCE

Nov 14, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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It is so interesting that someone could write a comment that there are laws in this country which if activated, would put the entire PPP and their descendants out of Guyana, and urge them to take care since they are just visitors to this land, and not one letter, save and except that from a PPP parliamentarian, has appeared criticizing this statement.
We are yet to hear from all those letter writers who are quick to jump on what they perceive as the slightest infraction by the ruling administration, yet they remain silent in the face of this comment. Perhaps they too are confounded by this statement. We are yet also to hear from those opposition politicians aspiring to high office as to what their interpretation of that comment means, and whether they are comfortable with simply ignoring it.
But while the silence is deafening on this score, it is anticipated that a ruckus is going to be created over the discovery that a doctor registered to work at the Georgetown Public Hospital, has now been discovered to have been convicted of a sex-related offence in New York and debarred from working there.
There are going to be many more letters and comments over the next few days over this issue while the statement about visitors are going to be ignored. This is Guyana for you.
Mind you, the matter concerning the registration of the doctor is a serious problem for which answers need to be provided. This matter needs to be handled professionally and not allow sentiment to override ethical considerations.
Firstly, it needs to be determined definitively whether those who registered the doctor knew that he was convicted of an offence in New York and whether they knew the true nature of that offence. If they knew this, then they must be asked to explain the basis of the registration of the doctor.
If it is a condition that doctors must be in good standing where they previously worked before they can be registered locally and if this requirement was dispensed with, then the basis for doing so needs to be explained.
Secondly, it needs to be determined whether there were persons within the Ministry of Health who knew that the doctor was debarred and was convicted of an offence in New York. If they knew this and did not act on this information, knowing that it could have had implications for the registration of the doctor, then those persons need to also explain themselves.
If on the other hand, the Medical Council did not know the true nature of the conviction of the doctor and granted him a registration on the basis of lack of full disclosure, then the doctor needs to explain whether he was indeed forthright with the Council. If he was not, then he would be liable to the strongest possible sanctions as is permitted under statute and under the regulations that guide such decisions.
There is therefore a need for facts to be clarified and for an independent determination to be made as to what are the facts. The best way for this to happen is for a committee of inquiry to be established to determine these facts. This is a responsibility of the government who should wish for this matter to be settled definitively.
Once this committee enjoys public confidence, there is no reason why this matter should be allowed to fester and cause further public consternation.
Hopefully the government will recognize the need to not allow this matter to be blown out of proportion, but would take the necessary steps to diffuse the present imbroglio which threatens to bring the entire health sector into disrepute.
Guyana does not need such unnecessary distractions at this moment. While this matter is very serious, it does not necessarily need to develop it as a major source of division and distraction. Once the situation is dealt with professionally, then there would be no need for it to be another source of public discontent. This is why it is best that the matter should therefore be resolved through an independent and professional inquiry which would lay to rest all the charges and counter charges that are being made.
Guyanese are understanding people. They would definitely have concerns about the revelations that have so far been made public about this matter. But they are also understanding and reasonable.
The public would be more considerate and sympathetic towards the doctor if they feel that he was forthright with the Council and did not conceal any material facts which ought to have been made public, and once they are convinced that he has turned over a new leaf and would be strictly supervised.
People make mistakes in life and they should be punished for those mistakes. But life is also about showing consideration to those who err, not by ignoring what was done, but by dealing with it and ensuring that those who did wrong things are given a chance to begin afresh.
If on the other hand, there was deception involved, then the public would not be able to extend trust and forgiveness, even to the best of caregivers.

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