Urgent probe of private hospitals needed

THE EDITOR: Two recent events have brought to light the urgent need to investigate private health care institutions. One is the death of Dawn Dolly, and the other the death of Simone Uddenberg. Both were treated at the St Clair Medical Centre for “minor surgery.” According to Simone’s mother, “Simone decided a year after the implant to remove the steel rod from her leg after being advised by her doctor that it was safe. She went into minor surgery and a few days later she was dead.” In Dawn Dolly’s case, she went into the St Clair Medial Centre for a “simple” procedure — the removal of fibroids and died from cardiac arrest. Miss Eastlyn McKenzie had this to say: “They thought that Dawn had gone to the best place. When they see top-of-the-line places, people think, ‘Well, OK, you could dead there’.

But they need as much investigation as you investigate babies’ deaths at Mt Hope, death at PoS General, or whatever.” Wade Mark’s comments were as follows: “Too many people have perished in TT under mysterious circumstances which warranted investigation. Maybe the time has come for such an inquiry, so we can spare the family and friends such developments in the future. Justice demands nothing less in this instance.” It is interesting to note that no member of the medical staff or the head of the institution has been recorded as having come forward with either an explanation, expression of sympathy or an apology.

The CEO, a non-medical member of staff, has been appointed spokesperson for the medical staff. The comments by the grieving mother and close friends of Dawn Dolly are self-explanatory. It is clear that there is no public hue and cry about the costly private institutions in this country simply because they are expected to be “top-of-the-line” and this pre-supposes better care. This is an incorrect supposition and there are many who remain silent in their grief. In the name of justice, is there anything that can be done by anyone to save us all from the ills of these institutions?

VERONICA S FERREIRA
Port-of-Spain