Two issues in Trinidad and Tobago today have serious implications for where we are heading as a society - the shutting down of an entire department at the San Fernando General Hospital and the threat by police to stay away from work and thereby create what they call "a debilitating effect" on crime prevention.
With respect to the hospital doctors appear to have "withdrawn their enthusiasm" and shut down the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, depriving more than 100 women with serious health issues of elective surgery; they have also shut down the clinic.
And it's all because they are unhappy with the treatment of five doctors and four nurses, who have been suspended for two weeks with pay to allow an investigation into the death of a patient who bled to death following a cesarean section at the hospital.
The administrators of the hospital have made it clear that no disciplinary action has been taken against the health care professions; all that has happened is that they have been removed them from the department during the two weeks that it would take to complete the investigation since the preliminary findings indicate that they might have been at fault.
Doctors are nurses have been trained to protect and preserve life. When they get emotional about an administrative matter and hold the public to ransom they are violating their code of ethics and acting most irresponsibly.
People make mistakes and must be held accountable. If it turns out that their colleagues did err in the performance of their duties, then as responsible professionals they should demand that action be taken against them to ensure that their profession and the public health services are protected.
Citizens deserve a health care sector in which they have trust. If those who are paid to look after the nation's health engage in clannish protection of each other every time questions are raised about one of their own, then the public would never be able to trust the system and the professionals who work in the institutions.
Citizens must demand that this nonsense stop and that doctors and nurses do what they are paid to do. And if anyone has deliberately caused harm to a patient or patients then she/her must face full disciplinary charges because people entrust their lives to doctors and nurses and deserve the best possible care! Errors cost human life that cannot be returned!
With respect to police, there is no excuse or justification for threatening a mass absence from work under false pretences. And those doctors who certify illnesses when people aren't sick are just as guilty.
Trinidad and Tobago has been facing a crisis in crime for over a decade. The new government and the new police commissioner have had some successes in fighting back. The 48 per cent drop in criminal activity over the Carnival festivities is just one example of the successes of the police.
Police officers must be commended for this. However when the leadership of their union makes threats to create a "debilitating effect on any and all crime prevention and reducing initiatives” then that is downright irresponsible and deserving of serious action.
Sgt Anand Ramesar as head of the Police Association had been on record as saying his association did not support and condone earlier action by police to stay away from work.
However, now he appears to be openly supporting an illegal action.
This is what the media reported Ramesar as saying: “Every conceivable area within the Police Service will be affected, including Special Reserve Officers (SRP) and City Police. The ‘blue flu’ was extremely mild compared to the “blue tsunami” that is about to hit.”
That is a threat not against the government but one against every citizen in the country. Each police officer has a sworn duty to protect citizens and the government should demand no less.
The Police Service is an essential one and while legal sources will say their action cannot be deemed "illegal" since people are entitled to be sick, we suggest that is the height of dishonesty to pretend to be ill and stay away from work.
It is fraudulent, unethical and irresponsible for any employee to fake illness and have that certified by a medical officer. Anyone who engages is such activity deserves no sympathy from anyone.
We believe that everyone deserves fair pay for their labour. However, we cannot accept that when things are not moving in favour of the police that they have a right to withhold their labour, hold citizens and the government to ransom and allow criminals a time-out to do as they please.
Now is the time for those responsible for the police service to act decisively in telling the police they have a duty to perform and those who abandon their reponsibility must face the full penalty for their actions.
Jai Parasram - 17 March 2010
With respect to the hospital doctors appear to have "withdrawn their enthusiasm" and shut down the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, depriving more than 100 women with serious health issues of elective surgery; they have also shut down the clinic.
And it's all because they are unhappy with the treatment of five doctors and four nurses, who have been suspended for two weeks with pay to allow an investigation into the death of a patient who bled to death following a cesarean section at the hospital.
The administrators of the hospital have made it clear that no disciplinary action has been taken against the health care professions; all that has happened is that they have been removed them from the department during the two weeks that it would take to complete the investigation since the preliminary findings indicate that they might have been at fault.
Doctors are nurses have been trained to protect and preserve life. When they get emotional about an administrative matter and hold the public to ransom they are violating their code of ethics and acting most irresponsibly.
People make mistakes and must be held accountable. If it turns out that their colleagues did err in the performance of their duties, then as responsible professionals they should demand that action be taken against them to ensure that their profession and the public health services are protected.
Citizens deserve a health care sector in which they have trust. If those who are paid to look after the nation's health engage in clannish protection of each other every time questions are raised about one of their own, then the public would never be able to trust the system and the professionals who work in the institutions.
Citizens must demand that this nonsense stop and that doctors and nurses do what they are paid to do. And if anyone has deliberately caused harm to a patient or patients then she/her must face full disciplinary charges because people entrust their lives to doctors and nurses and deserve the best possible care! Errors cost human life that cannot be returned!
With respect to police, there is no excuse or justification for threatening a mass absence from work under false pretences. And those doctors who certify illnesses when people aren't sick are just as guilty.
Trinidad and Tobago has been facing a crisis in crime for over a decade. The new government and the new police commissioner have had some successes in fighting back. The 48 per cent drop in criminal activity over the Carnival festivities is just one example of the successes of the police.
Police officers must be commended for this. However when the leadership of their union makes threats to create a "debilitating effect on any and all crime prevention and reducing initiatives” then that is downright irresponsible and deserving of serious action.
Sgt Anand Ramesar as head of the Police Association had been on record as saying his association did not support and condone earlier action by police to stay away from work.
However, now he appears to be openly supporting an illegal action.
This is what the media reported Ramesar as saying: “Every conceivable area within the Police Service will be affected, including Special Reserve Officers (SRP) and City Police. The ‘blue flu’ was extremely mild compared to the “blue tsunami” that is about to hit.”
That is a threat not against the government but one against every citizen in the country. Each police officer has a sworn duty to protect citizens and the government should demand no less.
The Police Service is an essential one and while legal sources will say their action cannot be deemed "illegal" since people are entitled to be sick, we suggest that is the height of dishonesty to pretend to be ill and stay away from work.
It is fraudulent, unethical and irresponsible for any employee to fake illness and have that certified by a medical officer. Anyone who engages is such activity deserves no sympathy from anyone.
We believe that everyone deserves fair pay for their labour. However, we cannot accept that when things are not moving in favour of the police that they have a right to withhold their labour, hold citizens and the government to ransom and allow criminals a time-out to do as they please.
Now is the time for those responsible for the police service to act decisively in telling the police they have a duty to perform and those who abandon their reponsibility must face the full penalty for their actions.
Jai Parasram - 17 March 2010
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