Parents query doctor’s suicide

Dr Sooknanan, 24, first took up duties as an intern on July 2 after graduating from the University of the West Indies (UWI), but challenged hospital authorities on his transfer only after three days at the Paediatric Ward to the Urology Department.

Yesterday, his parents — Motilal and Radica Sooknanan — broke their silence on their son’s death, a month after the young doctor hanged himself in the bathroom of the family’s Hilda Lazzari Terrace, San Fernando home. Motilal told Newsday his son confided in him that he had been sidelined and not given any work to do on the Urology Ward, after he sent a letter of complaint to Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr Phyllis Pitt-Miller.

Motilal, a medical lab superintendent at SFGH, said, “To have experienced this as a young graduate was too much.” The family has consulted attorney Chairtram Sinanan on the matter with a view to taking legal action.

Yesterday, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, SFGH medical director, confirmed that Dr Sooknanan was transferred from the Paediatric Ward after his third day. “But it was not personal. On the Paediatric Ward, we found there were enough interns. We asked the head to pick any two and Dr Sooknanan and two others were sent to Urology,” Chatoorgoon said.

A medical intern is supposed to spend six weeks on rotation in each department before he or she can be certified as a doctor by the Medical Board.

Motilal said his son was verbally assigned to the Urology Department for two weeks “without an explanation.” He said, “My son communicated this to the Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. A meeting was held. My son told me he was assured things would be sorted out after two weeks.”

Motilal said his son confided that he was verbally abused and humiliated when he returned to work in the Urology ward. “I advised my son to meet with Ms M Samlal in Personnel Department and he met with her on two occasions,” he said.

Dr Sooknanan’s mother Radica, said, “He told us that he was verbally chastised for complaining to Prof Pitt Miller. He never used to feel like going to work on mornings. He seemed not to be himself anymore and he looked withdrawn at home.”

The Sooknanans have two other children, Cristal, 25, who is a pharmacist and Kadine, 22, who is pursuing a degree in Physics at UWI.

The Sooknanans have written to Health Minister John Rahael, calling for an investigation into their son’s tenure as an intern at the hospital. Chatoorgoon said that he became aware of Dr Sooknanan’s concerns, “but he never came to me to complain.”