Inhumane service at our hospitals

I observed with astonishment the surreal treatment a patient got from a medical doctor. Often, in recent times I see and read in our local media medical professionals withholding their service because of poor wages or working conditions, yet they treat sick human beings in an ignorant manner which leaves one to wonder about the service patients get at our hospitals. I had to ask myself: Is this the usual Trinidadian way of treating people?

I later learnt after speaking with the patient that he was a victim of HIV/AIDS. As citizens we should show compassion to persons living with this epidemic. The professionals in the medical field and other hospital personnel should be properly trained in dealing with both the physical and psychological aspects of the patients’ needs.

Overall, well-being should be the goal. Medical professionals are supposed to be trained experts but still some of them treat persons living with HIV/AIDS with scorn and ridicule.

The fact is sick persons need care. It does not matter what the sickness may be.

Medical professionals should not enter into the medical profession if it is that their main concern is monetary gain. The medical profession should be carried out based on a true sense of caring for the sick.

I suspect that a thorough investigation would implicate many more, like the patient I encountered.

It is my belief that care and compassion is a great healing power. It takes a great amount of courage and commitment. Therefore medical professionals must act now to improve the service in our health sector or history will hold us accountable.

In closing, sicknesses like HIV/AIDS and cancer are not the biggest threat to humanity. It is hate and discrimination to our brothers and sisters that are the biggest sickness in our world today. Mr Minister, spread the word.

R BYRON

Tunapuna