Dr. Reyes still suspended, investigation incomplete

While the investigation into the death of a wounded prisoner continues at the K.H.M.H., News Five has learned that the investigation into the deaths of two infants which occurred at the hospital five months ago is still not complete. What’s more, the doctor in charge of those cases, Lavel Reyes, is still on suspension, with full pay. On August eleventh, News Five reported that two mothers, Lavern Meighan and Tracy Bainton, both listed by their doctors as high-risk pregnancies, lost their babies within a day or two of each other. They allege the deaths were preventable and that the hospital staff failed to honor their pleas for cesarean sections until it was too late. Acting Superintendent of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, John Waight, told News Five the hospital’s interim board, through the directorate, made the recommendation that Reyes be suspended until the hospital could conduct investigations into the deaths of the infants. Shortly thereafter, the case was handed over to the Public Services Commission. The Commission’s Chairman Charles Hyde, told News Five today that he knows the case has been pending since August, but that there are certain procedures the commission must follow. Hyde says the commission must inform the person of the charges against them and the person must reply in writing to the charges. The matter is then thoroughly investigated and a file is compiled. Once the commission is satisfied they have gathered all the evidence, a hearing is held and the decision becomes public knowledge. Hyde says the commission’s investigation into the matter is almost complete, adding that the commission meets “as often as it needs to”. He could not tell us when the date of the hearing would be. Hyde says it was the decision of the commission to leave Dr. Reyes on full pay but would not comment on their reasons for doing so. The Public Services Commission has six members: Sir Edney Cain, Hallet Moody, Donald Flowers, David Cruz, Karl Smith, who is also Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service and Labor, and the Chairman, Charles Hyde.