In what has to be the quickest decision in our healthcare history, a doctor has been fired for misconduct. It took a mere four days for St Jude’s Hospital to dismiss a physician who was engaged in an altercation with a patient last weekend. On Monday, chief executive officer of the hospital, Dr. Cherry Poyotte, promised ‘definitive appropriate action’ and that’s what he did.
“The physician who was involved in the incident is no longer employed by St Jude’s Hospital. This has been a bit traumatic to many of our employees. We have received assistance from the Ministry of Health. We’ve had some counselling sessions for some of the employees involved.
The hospital is hoping to send a clear message that they are operating under a zero tolerance policy.
”There are certain kinds of behaviour that we will not accept and are not acceptable to the hospital and we’ll take whatever actions necessary to continue to make sure that we continue to deliver excellent service to our public and to the patients that we serve.”
One person who is not impressed by the swift justice is Jeannique Edward, the daughter of Samantha Atkins, who died hours after an unexpected surgery to deliver twin boys back in early February. The Atkins clan believes medical malpractice was involved. Edward is appalled that her mother’s case continues to hang in the balance almost two months later, with no information being disseminated to the family. Edward did not mince words.
“I find that ridiculous! If you could fire a doctor for just getting into a fight with a patient so fast, you cannot fire one that killed somebody? It’s not making sense.”
The hospital has said that they have not had much communication with the family and that they had not been officially approached by them either. According to Edward, it’s not for lack of trying.
“We’ve been going to the hospital up and down from the time the children were in the hospital. They’re not saying anything. It’s frustrating to see you need answers and you’re not getting what you need. It’s very hard.”
The past two months have been difficult for the nineteen-year-old, who together with her grandmother Agatha, is raising the infants.
“I’m looking at the children. They’re there with me and I’m taking care of them. I look at them and I want to cry because all I see is my mother.”
Perhaps the family should pay a visit to the good Dr. Poyotte. He appears to be keeping his promises.
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One scapegoat for ministry of health, who's next for the police and fire service? If you gonna take action please be consistent and don't come talking crap when you have well over 50 cases of misconduct or malpractice awaiting inquiry/investigation. Stop trying to fool people. Everybody is blabbing their mouth zero tolerance to unethical behavior, blab and talk just the same way when people die as a result of negligence and malpractice by those health care so called professionals. Their families want answers also.
Agreed.
Is that a reflection of our society? While she may find it ridiculous that a physician was dismissed for 'fighting' with a patient and her mother's case not dealt with in the same manner it really shows the level of ignorance of our people. You could prove malpractice as quickly as you can prove someone struck someone? The STAR in itself for carrying this story is just as ridiculous and is very mischievous.
While the two incidents are different and one may indeed be easier to prove, the family of MS Atkins need answers and the public need answers too. For example just who is carrying out the investigation into the death of this woman after she had given birth to twins and operated on by a doctor at St Jude's? Has the doctor been sent on leave during the enquiry? Why hasn't the family of the deceased been kept abreast of the investigations if any is being carried out? These are just some of the questions we are asking and will continue to ask. If you consider this to be mischief, well it is simply your opinion.(STAR Editor)