Ethnic biases in health sector

THE EDITOR: It is becoming very prevalent now, from all reports, that doctors — and there’s no need to specify the ethnic group — are quick to remove the wombs of our African women. This is very serious business, but I suspect our Government is anxious not to say anything or do anything that would seem “racist”. But is urgent that something must be done to stop it. The fact that the majority of our doctors are of one ethnic group does not give them the right to decide what this country’s ethnic composition should be, and I want to suggest that our parliament frames new legislation to allow a doctor to remove a womb only if he or she receives signed permission. For it is very wrong for a doctor to remove a young woman’s womb, when the patient has had no womb problem at all. This has been happening quite frequently, which this government will know if it has the will to investigate it. Another matter. The Minister of Health, Colm Imbert, has said on numerous occasions that Cuban doctors are coming. Where are they? Or is it just talk. This country must urgently seek to correct its ethnic imbalance in the Public Health Service, with special reference to its doctors. I know this is a delicate matter but it can quickly become a desperate matter for a certain ethnic group in this country.
Yours with concern.

JOHN FRANCIS WILLIAMS
Port-of-Spain