Start suing doctors

THE EDITOR: The Medical Association has responded to Prof Deosaran’s remarks calling them irresponsible and demanding an apology. According to them, his call for more malpractice suits is not a solution. Instead, the terrible conditions prevailing in our health facilities need to be remedied. Both sides are actually right. The most dedicated medical professionals in the world can’t function in substandard conditions. When we look at the USA for instance, many of their health institutions are on the cutting edge in terms of technology. There is real emphasis on modernisation and having the best facilities available. The same is largely true for Canada. Under the health care system there, if the treatment you need is not available in your province, or indeed in the country, you will be flown at the Government’s expense to receive it wherever it is available.

But one also has to ask what is responsible for this state of affairs. Canadians and Americans are not any better or wiser or more deserving than we are. But Canada has a tradition of government with a social conscience and is a socialist state in many ways. In the USA one of the very important factors driving the process is that people are very aware of their rights and prepared to sue to uphold them. And since their rights are enshrined in the Constitution, they can win big money when they sue! So I’m sorry, Medical Association, but malpractice suits have a lot to do with improving health conditions and the way doctors work! Besides, if all your members are virtuous as you claim even if there is a frivolous suit, then truth will come out, won’t it? And you the Medical Association will back them up all the way, won’t you? Just like you did Dr Hugvon des Vignes. I say we start suing. It seems to be the only way to get certain doctors’ attention.

KAREN MOORE
St Joseph