Those unanswered questions about the Medical Council of Guyana

Jul 22, 2018 Letters

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Dear Sir,
The Medical Council of Guyana (The Council) as defined by the Medical Practitioner’s Act (Cap 32:02 of the Laws of Guyana – Sept 1991) is the official body tasked with the registration of medical doctors; to appoint examiners; and conduct examinations of persons desirous of being registered to practice medicine, maintaining a code of conduct of medical practitioners and effecting disciplinary measures when such code is not adhered to, and to advise the Minister on Medical Matters when necessary among other functions. The duration of a Council is two (2) years but may be extended in special cases.
The current Council is made up of nine (9) members of whom one is elected Chairperson, six (6) being registered medical practitioners with at least five (5) years continuous service, a legal officer, the Chief Medical Officer (ex officio member) and any one member of the Public. The current members are:
Dr. Navin Rambarran (Chairman)
Dr. Frank Anthony (Member)
Dr. Mahendra Carpen (Member)
Dr. Bhiro Harry (Member)
Dr. Ravi Motilall (Member)
Dr. Marissa Seepersaud (Member)
Dr. Shamdeo Persaud (Chief Medical Officer/Ex Officio Member)
Mr. Kamal Ramkarran (Member/Legal Advisor)
Ms. Sylvia Conway (Member)
Many reports have been made regarding the efficient functioning of this council, which has left much to be desired. A well read columnist (Freddie Kissoon) in an article recently questioned the makeup of the Council and its ability to deliver accurate justice to the public with reference to disciplinary measures against doctors/medical personnel who may have had infringements of the codes of conduct of their profession and them being tried and disciplined by “peers”.
The Council in an effort to clear their good name has responded to most accusations and has greatly publicized their recent successes, such as the ability to have a matter involving a Cuban Doctor being settled at the Caribbean Court of Justice, level all within a short time span of less than six (6) months. Great work by the legal team of the Council, I may add.
Why is this preamble important? It is because of the many other cases that have reached the Council and for which the public is never made aware of the findings and or resolutions made at Council level. Take for example, the famous cases of the three (3) doctors accused of supplying the expensive and addictive drug (Pethidine) to the former PNCR member of Region 5. Were these charges ever fully substantiated? If yes, was a formal hearing given to the erring physicians, if they would have erred in their judgments in treatment of the patient? What was the final decision with regards to recommendations from the Council? The public was never given the resolution of these cases but they should know that one of the doctors accused is safely furthering his studies in China on a Government of Guyana Scholarship, another continues to practice medicine at the same hospital where he was before the incident and the third and chief accused, the former acting RHO is currently practising in the Internal Medicine Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Again, I may add great work Council?
I am sure there are many more cases but I recently learnt of two very interesting cases currently being heard at the Council level involving two young doctors. What is different and amazing with these two cases is that they have been ongoing for over two years, dating back from the lifetime of the previous Council! These are two doctors who have been on the Council’s recommendation suspended from being able to practice medicine in Guyana, pending the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the Council. This famed disciplinary committee as referred to me by a family member of one of the affected doctors has never been formed and as such for the entire duration of the life of the present Council, this doctor was never ever given a chance to explain his side of the case in front of the Council or members. The other doctor has had one session with a committee of Council members after more than a year waiting but has since had no follow up. Does it seem as if the Council and its members care about the well-being of these two doctors? From all evidence, no. These young doctors have seen their ability to earn a livelihood extinguished, they have been unable to further their studies in the field of medicine, and their right to work based on their qualifications infringed. This is not taking into account the great physical and mental stress they have experienced and the financial burdens themselves and families have suffered because of the lack of urgency of the Council to expedite their matters.
Can the Chairman and the well studied (all senior doctors with public and private practices) members of the Council imagine their source of income taken away for two years? Do the CMO and other members of the Council have no heart or care for their fellow doctors? Has the legal expert not explained the wrongs of the Council, in giving inefficient justice to these two doctors? How long more will this situation prevail before the Honourable Ministers of Public Health look into the injustices suffered by these two doctors?
I noticed in all the major newspapers, a call by the CMO for the submissions of candidates to be nominated as prospective Medical Council Board Members for 2018-2020. What struck me was the timeline given. One week of advertising time before submissions closed. How can the CMO expect the doctors working in the distant regions to get this information in a timely manner and then submit their desired candidate in less than a week? Was the logistics of same well thought out? Or maybe as we all know if the current members of the Council are desirous of seeking re-election then they are automatically candidates. Is there collaboration on the part of the CMO to keep the present Council in place with the hope that they improve in their service?
After hearing of the plight of these two young doctors and listening to other cases, I would strongly implore the current Council members to stay far away from representing other doctors or seeking re-election to public offices. They are all wonderful doctors in their own rights; some being amongst the highest qualified in their specific fields but maybe they should keep their services to the patients in their public and private practices. Let others who can champion the cause of being service friendly, efficient, caring whilst at the same time being resolute in fulfilling the mandate of their offices and giving all citizens of Guyana just reward in service. The government has made “change” their mantra and maybe we need to change the way we offer our services to the Guyanese Public, be it the man in the “212” or the man in the “Prado”. Let justice be given to all.
Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Gustavo Kuerten (Advocate)

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