P.U.P. calls for suspension of doctor at Northern Regional

With the number mothers and newborns who have suffered severe complications, the People’s United Party says the time has long passed for stringent action. The P.U.P. is calling for the immediate suspension of the doctors and other medical personnel involved in alleged crisis at the Northern Regional Hospital. It also wants an independent investigation to be carried out with input from the Medical Council as well as the Belize Medical and Dental Association. Deputy Party Leader, Dolores Balderamos Garcia spoke to News Five about the party’s position.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Deputy Leader, People’s United Party

Dolores Balderamos Garcia

“Within our party we call it nothing less than an abomination that this kind of situation can be carrying on from so long and what is happening? What is actually happening? From the first case of a child suffering brain damage or being severely affected or the mother being severely affected because of obstetric procedures and a pregnancy etcetera; from the very first case there should have been a suspension of the persons involved and right away an impartial and independent investigation. Now I can tell you that Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, the Area Representative for Orange Walk East, he has brought to the party’s attention no fewer than nine cases and we are extremely concerned. There may be more and no doubt you in the media will do the investigation. But what we want to say is that we consider this ongoing situation to be more than deplorable and the government must take this in hand immediately. As a matter of fact, it is far even too late but we do not want one more case of a child dying or a mother suffering this kind of injury because of gross negligence, neglect or even possible medical malpractice. So we are saying that this is a situation that has gone on for far too long, it is time that it be arrested, we consider it to be abuse of our Belizean children and women and we must, as a political party, speak out on this. We are hearing now of the government scrambling and sending the Solicitor General to meet with the Medical Council; that is too little too late. However, whatever needs to be done right now, we are calling for it to be done immediately.”

Balderamos Garcia called it a total shame that the Minister of Health personally attacked Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez instead of providing answers when the issue was raised in the House of Representatives on November thirtieth.  But she says the P.U.P. will continue to bring pressure on the government.