Enraged by nonsense from health minister

If he has managed to obtain five independent medical opinions that support his assertion, then I urge the Opposition to have him hand them over so it can ascertain their contextual relevance.

Deyalsingh may well have framed his query to the doctors in a way that teased out a particular response. I would urge the Opposition to request sight of his original query and read the responses so as to ascertain context.

If indeed they provided their opinions as open-ended responses to the broad issue of whether beta thalassemia major is or is not life threatening, then they are in dire need of continuing professional development.

We are citizens of TT , a country in which the present Minister of Health has decreed cuts in medical expenditure.

At the best of times, the screening we do at the blood transfusion facility fails to capture blood that is contaminated with the HIV antigen.

All we test for is the HIV antibody which develops several months following exposure to HIV. In our present economic circumstances, I would not at all be surprised if even routine HIV antibody testing is not done because of resource constraints.

Look at the rubbish Stewart Young reportedly said to the press.

He acknowledged that the person who received blood transfusions of HIV-contaminated blood has died, but added that his death was not due to HIV but to something else. Of course, it would be due to “something else” — most likely an HIV-related opportunistic infection. He would never have had that infection had he not first acquired HIV through the sloppy and under-funded health sector.

I have had patients in the past who have acquired transfusion-related HIV. Most recently, one of my patients suffered hepatitis C infection through transfusion with Hepatitis C-contaminated blood.

All of this can be minimised, if not eliminated, if we have people in charge who respect their oath of office and who are prepared to be honest to the people they serve and not be self-serving.

If UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen wishes, just as I provided a comprehensive affidavit to the anti-smelter movement, I can provide him, pro-bono, with a comprehensive document that encapsulates a best-practice position regarding the pathology and molecular biology of beta thalassemia major and its impact on health and life expectancy.

STEVE SMITH via email