‘We won’t be scapegoats’

President of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA), Dr Renee Badroe, is sounding a note of caution that medical practitioners will not be scapegoats for problems that have nothing to do with their remit.

The JMDA head told The Gleaner yesterday that doctors across the country in the public health sector showed significant support for their colleagues at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) by wearing black as a mark of protest.

According to Badroe, the protest by the medical personnel was to stand in solidarity with doctors at the BHC “who had received some unjust blame for the issues that were happening at the facility”.

“The ball is in the court of the ministry and the JMDA is willing to work with the ministry. What we are not willing to do, however, is to be scapegoats for a problem that is not a part of our duty,” she told The Gleaner.

Last week, United States-based surgeon Dr Robert Brady and his team were unable to carry out life-changing surgery on an 11 year-old girl because of issues with one of the operating theatres at the BHC.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said last week that arrangements were in place for the surgery to be done this week on the 11 year-old girl, diagnosed with scoliosis, at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

During a press conference late last week, Tufton said that “systemic defects” were behind the ills affecting some operations at hospitals.

He said, in terms of public health, the country did not have a money problem at this time. “We have, in a number of cases, a management problem in terms of some of these decisions; maybe a leadership problem in terms of people showing initiative; and, in this case (Bustamante), a maintenance problem,” he said.

CONFUSING RHETORIC

But Badroe argued on Monday that, if money was not the problem, then it would be for the ministry to partner with the different medical associations as they advocate for improved facilities and equipment to care for patients. She made it clear that doctors are responsible for the medical management of the patients, noting that issues related to maintenance and procurement of equipment were the domain of the management.

“What we have had is a confusing rhetoric that is within the public sphere where the doctors’ duties are conflated with someone else’s duty and the doctors are bearing the blame for something that is outside of their job description,” she added.

But, in a response from Tufton last evening, the health and wellness minister said he did not lay blame at the feet of doctors for any missteps at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

“I don’t know how doctors are getting upset, because I never accused doctors of anything,” he said.

“My comments at no point were aimed at the doctors, whether it is the JMDA and its members or otherwise,” said Tufton, who sought to clarify that his remarks were about the administration of the resources.

The health and wellness minister said he has asked Badroe and members of her executive team to pay a courtesy call on him, as has been the custom of newly appointed JMDA presidents.

“I would like to hear their concerns, and sincerely so. I would like to work with them and address any concerns that they have.”

He noted that there were salary-related issues from the compensation review, adding that the government was trying to resolve those issues.

At the weekend, the JMDA said it noted the infrastructural challenges faced by the BHC.

However, it said this was not a unique problem, as similar issues are nearly ubiquitous in other healthcare facilities.

In a media release, Badroe said that, over the years, the JMDA has highlighted the widespread infrastructural and human resources deficiencies in repeated communications with the health ministry.

LIMITED RESPONSE

However, the JMDA head said, despite numerous letters and persistent efforts from the association to engage the ministry, there has been limited response to some of these critical issues that are impacting both healthcare workers and the quality of patient care.

At the same time, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dr Leslie Meade, said doctors are asking that adequate resources and the necessary infrastructure be put in place for them to treat their patients.

He said medical practitioners have been acting professionally and within their scope of practice. “We always look out for the betterment and improvement in our patients.”

He said doctors are at times limited by the resources that are available to carry out their duties.

However, he said, the doctors always go above and beyond to treat their patients. “We as doctors feel good when our patients feel good.”

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com