CHATOORGOON GETS TOUGH, REPORTS ‘SICK’ DOCTORS TO MINISTRY

IN the position of medical chief of staff for just three days, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon yesterday decided to take a firm stand against doctors reporting sick at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Chatoorgoon reported several doctors to the Ministry of Health when an entire unit comprising seven doctors in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (maternity) ward, reported sick yesterday. That unit, Chatoorgoon added, was responsible for attending to pregnant mothers and babies. So peeved was the newly-appointed Ag medical director when there was no “coverage” for patients, Chatoorgoon sought legal advice from former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC. Chatoogoon said he wanted to publicise the names of the doctors in his complaints to the authorities hence the reason for consulting Maharaj.

Chatoorgoon had the backing of Principal Medical Officer of Health Dr Deepak Mahabir, who told Newsday yesterday that the Ministry viewed the continuing sick leave by doctors as a serious one. But the ministry, Mahabir said, did not have the capability to prove doctors reporting sick, were in fact not ill. The veracity of sick leave abuse, in most cases where “sick out” doctors were engaged in private practice, Mahabir said, is currently engaging the attention of the ministry. “I raised the matter with the PMOI, Deepak Mahabir and the PS Hamid O’ Brien. It was a situation in which no alternative arrangements were made. I asked the authorities to inquire and deal with the doctors as they see fit,” Chatoorgoon said.

Chatoorgoon said yesterday that he had cause to file a report against the doctor, an Ag consultant, whose absence at the weekend put the life of a pregnant mother and her baby at risk. Chatoorgoon was forced to call in off duty doctors to attend to Gail Charles. There were no doctors on the ward and Charles’ baby went into distress. Chatoorgoon said he viewed as highly unacceptable, the submission only yesterday of a sick leave by the particular doctor. “I asked the PS and PMOH to write to this doctor. I also asked them to inquire why this doctor often reports sick whenever he is on call,” Chatoorgoon said.

Chatoorgoon said that he has sought advice from the ministry on how he should deal in the future with doctors who were repeatedly calling in sick and submitting sick leave. “I asked my secretary not to accept calls from such doctors but that they report to me directly,” Chatoorgoon said.  Mahabir told Newsday that the use of sick leave was abnormal and potentially serious. Expressing optimism that the impasse would be resolve soon, PMOI Mahabir said the ministry was relying on the integrity and professionalism of doctors to avoid misuse of sick leave.