5 doctors suspended at San F'do General Hospital; elective surgeries in O&G stopped

Five doctors and four nurses who were supposed to be suspended from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) since Monday were finally handed their letters and sent home Wednesday.

The South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), which is the hospital's administrative body, has stated that the suspension is not disciplinary action but a move to guarantee transparency during the investigation in the death of a patient. 

The doctors and nurses have been sent home for two weeks with pay to allow investigators to complete their work. 

The move triggered an angry reaction from hospital medical director Dr Anand Chatoorgoon who told the Newsday newspaper the suspension of his colleagues is a "flagrant breach of procedure".

In addition the hospital cancelled all elective surgeries in the department for thne next two weeks and advised pateints that the regular clinic would also be cancelled, apprently because of a shortage of personnel.

The decision to cancel surgeries affects more than 100 women who are awaiting such surgical procedures as hysterectomy, surgery to remove ovarian cysts and even for breast cancer.

In an official statement Chatoorgoon said: “I am very hurt and pained by what has been done to the doctors. I do sincerely feel this was not the way to go. The proper procedures should have been followed before a decision was taken to suspend.

“I do feel empathy for the doctors and am concerned that there is a wave of low morale across both the medical and nursing fraternities. I am concerned about the possibility that this could affect, in a negative way, services we provide at SFGH,” Chatoorgoon said.

Newsday said its sources have indicated that the suspended doctors have sought legal advice on their next move.

The action against the health care personnel resulted from the preliminary findings of an investigation into the death of Chrystal Ramsoomair following a successful caesarian section to deliver her baby. However the woman suffered severe bleeding and died later.

Chatoorgoon said he met with doctors working in the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department together with hospital executive director Dr Akenath Misir and SWRHA Chief Executive Officer Paula Chester-Cumberbatch.

At that meeting, he said, the doctors said they had become "demoralised" over the suspensions and said they would be "over cautious" in dealing with patients. “Therefore a decision was taken to suspend all elective surgery in the Ob-Gyn ward for the next two weeks."