Medical and Dental Association concerned about Northern Regional Hospital
Joel Cervantes
The several women who have alleged malpractice at the Northern regional Hospital wrote to the Belize Medical and Dental Association expressing their discontent and asking for a full investigation into their unfortunate experiences. But the BMDA does not have the power to effect any change; but it is in fact, the Medical Council headed by chairman, George Gough; that is to whom the letters should have been addressed. News Five spoke to President of BMDA, Doctor Joel Cervantes, who says that there is friction within between medical practitioners. Cervantes also says that the doctors in question at the Northern Regional Hospital are not members of the association.
Dr. Joel Cervantes, President, Belize Medical and Dental Association
“The medical and dental association; its membership is purely on a voluntary basis. By law as yet, you don’t have to be a member of the BMDA. We take this situation seriously; the BDMA does not really have any power-base to do anything much about it more than its members because we have people who work both in the private and public sector: government hospitals, clinics and even in private practice. What we have recommended is that the pertinent authorities look into this which si the medical council. So we have written the chairman of the medical council to take the matter seriously and to as objectively as possible get to the bottom of this—not to sit down on it—so that nothing remains afterwards; no bad blood. The BMDA of course is not a political organization and we do know and we do trust that the authorities are going to look at it in a correct fashion. There is a bit of friction on both sides—the people who are claiming that there is malpractice, other practitioners in the medical service; there is a bit of friction. So it is necessary for the pertinent authorities to get to the bottom of this so that any unnecessary fears can be dispelled. If somebody has done something wrongly, well this has to be looked into and addressed appropriately. Well if it is not that case, well it will also be identified. I am pretty sure that the government and the health authorizes and the medical council are going to do things in an appropriate fashion.”
The cases have upset many of the country’s doctors. And that is why the BMDA president, Doctor Cervantes will be a guest speaker on the Dickie Bradley Special which airs live at eight p.m. on this station.
I feel sad for our Honorable Minister of Health — he has no medical training, and no idea what to do. He seems to be like an ostrich with his head stuck in the sand, hoping the whole thing will go away if he doesn’t look at it. Is that any way to run a hospital or a country?
GOB has to seriously look into the role of SOME of the Cuban Doctors practising in the hospitals…. some of them have poor medical ethics and professionalims or are simply incompetent unfit for the role of a doctor…
I had a personal experience at the Corozal Hospital where a crtitically ill patient died last year after 4 hours of being admitted to ward,…..
I saw how a NURSE was GIVING a cuban DOCTOR INSTRUCTIONS on how to use the equipment they were usng to try to resucitate the patient…. I was standing 5 feet of the dying patient… He eventually did die after this doctor overinflated the patients lungs with compressed oxygen from the oxygen tank!!!
I encouraged the family to demand a full investigation into this death but being overcome by grief they opted simply to bury their son…. and never again set foot into the hospital…
HOW ON EARTH A DOCTOR DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THESE SIMPLE INSTRUMENTS??? AND IT TAKES A NURSE TO GIVE HIM INSTRUCTIONS.!!!!
I knew from that moment that many more cases of malpractise would continue…. but people are afraid to speak out!!!
i strongly support the claimers and yes the Cuban Doctors does not have the expertise as professional Doctors rather they come to our Country to continue their Practice/training with our innocent people. hence the reason that they are on the job training doing malpractices, because they are not properly qualified as yet. How many more Malpractices do we belizeans need to go through before our GOB do something about it???
We do not trust anything will come out of this..there is no leadership in this country and sad to say all areas are being affected because of this. We have politically appointed people leading our country without a clue as to what they are responsible for.
We need medical people to be head of our healthcare system- is this too dumb a proposition?
If the patients were Guatemalan the government would have given the family’s money for there loss.
is this the same Dr Gough that lost twice in Fort George, do you think he will revoke liscense for a Dr handpicked by the Minister. Cesspool of coruption in the Ministry of Health, many more poor people to die.
going to public hospital is like buying ur coffin ahead of time
What a shame!!!!!!!!! Medicals doctors and unable to use a basic instrument????.. man this is nonsense. I believe is demanding now to have a word from the Prime Minster now, since his Minister of Health is incompetent to respond.