Dogs undergo CAT Scans at Mt Hope

The adult dog urinated in the examination room before it was sedated and scanned. The procedure took between 15 and 20 minutes. A senior nurse at the department instructed her subordinates not to get involved. A patient (human) was scheduled for a CT later in the afternoon, Newsday learnt.

Public Services Association (PSA) staff representative Lyndon Cowan, told Newsday the majority of radiographers were "quite unaware" that dogs were to be brought in for the diagnostic procedure.

"Services at the x-ray department cater for humans and not animals. Staff were very concerned about what diseases the dogs may be carrying, in light of the fact that the CT service caters for critically ill human patients," Cowan said. He added that there were instances in which human patients had to wait as long as two months for a CAT scan. Cowan said he was not aware of any medical facility where a dog is brought to scan in a department designed for humans. "We believe this would have compromised set health and safety standards."

Cowan and another PSA representative approached the chief radiographer about the episode but according to Cowan, that official took a stance that nothing unusual had happened and the veterinary hospital was part of the EWMSC. Cowan was informed that the Clinical Director Dr Omar Khan knew of the situation.

"Staff would like the Health Minister to give a clear statement on the use of the radiology department and whether it is fit for humans and animals to share the CT." A patient was scheduled for a scan later Friday afternoon.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Khan said, "absolutely not. Untrue, rumours. It is certainly untrue that is all I am prepared to say." However contacted again, Dr Khan changed his statement. He said he enquired of the Chief Radiographer who confirmed that a dog was scanned.

"It was a dog suspected of having a brain tumour and needed a CT scan for diagnosis. All the necessary precautions were taken and the room was sanitised. There were no consequences." Dr Khan said in many parts of the world the large veterinary hospitals do CT scans but the local veterinary hospital did not have the facilities. He told Newsday he did not know the owner of the dog but believed it was an emergency situation if the CT had to be done.

Khan said it was the first time a dog had a CT scan at the Radiology Department and it only took a few seconds. Asked if this would happen again, Dr Khan said, "I can’t make that comment." He maintained that he was unaware of the incident and said he could not see it "as a big deal."

Asked if the Chief Radiographer notified him of the dogs being scanned, Khan said, "it may have slipped him."

Health Minister John Rahael said he was "astounded" to hear that dogs were scanned. "I am certainly surprised, in the Ministry I am not aware of any such situation. I don’t know if the protocol allows such a scan." Asked if the CT scan was bought for use on humans, Rahael said, "yes it was bought for humans." Rahael promised to investigate the matter.