Judge orders TT Medical Board to investigate doctors

A HIGH Court judge has ordered the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago to launch an investigation into the conduct of doctors who were found to have acted negligently in treating a pregnant woman at the San Fernando General Hospital. Justice Carlton Best, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, granted an order of mandamus to Rana Ramlal of Diamond Village, San Fernando. Ramlal, 25, was awarded compensation by Madame Justice Mira Dean-Armorer two years ago after the judge ruled a doctor acted negligently in misdiagnosing her medical condition.

One doctor was named as a defendant in the lawsuit and the judge made a finding of incompetence and negligence against that doctor. Ramlal’s attorney, Anand Ramlogan argued a judicial review lawsuit before Justice Best, in which the attorney disclosed certain correspondence between himself and the Council of the Medical Board. Ramlogan submitted that the Council, in reply to his letter, stated “that the negligent conduct of the actions of the doctors did not reveal anything which could be reasonably regarded as disgraceful or dishonourable.”

Justice Best granted Ramlal an order quashing the Council’s conclusion.The judge also granted an order of mandamus, directing the Council to investigate or launch an inquiry into Ramlal’s complaint of the negligent actions of the doctors. A further order was granted that the decision of the Council not to investigate or inquire into the actions of the doctors, is illegal, unreasonable and unfair.