The following was received from a BU Source:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)
- Dr Ishmael, as a senior member of the Consultant staff of over 30 years, is held in high regard by the Ministry and Board of Management of the QEH.
- The decision to suspend Dr Ishmael was done only after consultation with a legal and industrial relations expert and in the best interest of both Dr Ishmael and the QEH. It is consistent with current practice where a serious breach of the Staff Rules is alleged. A full investigation into the matter is being conducted.
- It is important to note that in June the Board was advised in writing by Dr Ishmael that he could not guarantee that he would be renewing his contract which expired in April of this year. Notwithstanding, the Board delayed advertising the post of paediatric cardiologist, given Dr Ishmael’s standing at the QEH and also to accommodate the personal and professional commitments that took him away from his duties for considerable periods. Notwithstanding these prolonged absences, the Board received no correspondence from the Department of Paediatrics on the “increased risk of adverse outcomes” similar to the one issued after only one day of suspension.
Related Link – Internal QEH Memo
- As noted above, the QEH Board has made every effort to ensure that paediatric patient care is not compromised during this period. The actions taken includes dialogue with paediatric cardiologists abroad, one of whom is a Bajan, to either bring them to Barbados for consultations or using telemedicine to send data to access their consult services remotely. In addition, the support in the short-term is being provided to Department of Cardiology to assist Dr Moe.
- While agitation by members of the medical profession locally and regionally for Dr Ishmael’s reinstatement was anticipated, given his strong personal and professional loyalties, it is important to reiterate that in the interest of patient-care, staff morale, and good governance that no employee at the QEH, regardless of profession, age, colour or political affiliation, can be placed above the law and beyond the staff rules.
- One critical point that has arisen during this matter has been the realisation that in some areas of clinical speciality there are no back-up services available and during periods when specialist are away including on vacation there is an increased risk of adverse outcomes. To avert this situation in the future, the Board and Ministry have been communicating and the QEH will. move with haste to develop a register of those Barbadian physicians in the Diaspora who are willing to provide support to the QEH in the provision of services to the Barbadian public. This will be explored as a new thrust in the Medical Aide Scheme.
- There is unwavering support for the Board of Management of the QEH by the Government.
Do prejudices relating to race and class exist in lodges as in the wider society?
I would really like to know how Dr Gaskin will be able to attend to patients in the QEH from the US especially on a day like today where there are snow storms in the US and everyone is being advised to stay indoors?
I have some questions for the Chairman…………
*Has the QEH installed a special direct line to call this doctor? *Is he on standby 24/7? If so, how can he attend to his patients in the US?
*How much is he being paid?
*Was this move sanctioned by the cabinet of Barbados?
*What happens if the internet service is down and a child’s life is at risk, how will the QEH be able to utilise Dr Gaskin’s expertise?
From what I understand, telemedicine is being used on a limited basis by some doctors in some US states and this is on their patients whose medical history they know and whose files their have. In most cases they are using telemedicine as a cost saving measure as a result of Obamacare.
How can a man called the chairman who has no medical background be out there pontificating about this new patient care “revolution” when he knows there is no substitute for hands on doctor care? Really, he should stick to education and forget the politics.
Lord, look what my country come to? Did not the DLP had all the answers to fix all the woes of the QEH whilst they were in opposition?
Good Questions Mr Prodigal Son
Are you sure you are the prodigal, or is the real prodigal the moron running down the hospital . Except this guy is so full of pig shhhhhhhhhhht that even his father wont take him back He would be too shame.
when he knows there is no substitute for hands on doctor care? Really, he should stick to education and forget the politics.
Do you really think that “he knows there is no substitute for hands on doctor care?”
Are you saying that he is also in a position to mess up education too? Is thier no one in Bim to do the peoplle’s work anymore?
when he knows there is no substitute for hands on doctor care? Really, he should stick to education and forget the politics.
Question
Is this lodge brother alex mcdonald of Lime?
If so it probably explains his position at Lime as Country Manager.
Quoting “A. Freeman | December 26, 2010 at 4:49 PM | Do prejudices relating to race and class exist in lodges as in the wider society?”
Yes.
And religion and gender too.
Lodge members are products of the wider society and they can therefore be no better nor worse than the wider society.
Although on occasion an individual lodge member may be a better man or woman that is common in the particular society.
“
This Ishmael suspension and the above memo really has me scratching my head about the level of professionalism, confidentiality and ethical conduct by some of our health care workers.
Firstly, the QEH has a clearly articulated policy on who has access to patients on wards; I find it incredible that this has not been identified as a key issue in this controversy.
Secondly, if Dr. Ishmael did not make a referral to Dr. Sparman then we need to be concerned about the absence of informed consent if the allegation that Sparman solicited the patient is accurate.
Thirdly, with respect to the purported show of allegiance to the QEH board; I think the writer of this ‘memo’ is very quick to eschew the behaviour of select consultants and offer a chop and discard approach as a solution. Yet solidarity with the Board in suspension of a colleague does not begin to address concerns of the patient’s family on whose behalf Ishmael claims to be acting.
Patient-centred health care will not be successful in an environment where breaches in confidentiality and ethical conduct exists.
I have a few questions/ thoughts:
1: Whether or not Dr. Sparman is truly guilty of sexual abuse we will never really know. But the fact is that he did not fully disclose, as he would have been required to do in the USA/ Guyana/ wherever else he practiced or tried to practice. It was not Dr. Sparman’s right to deny Barbadian authorities full access to his professional information/ personal record. If that is true, the behavior indicates an arrogance that says – at the very least – that Dr. Sparman, and not Barbadian authorities, decides what is best for Barbadians/ people being treated in Bdos & he has been allowed to do so. If he was given “permission” – that is another story! If he is in fact guilty of what he was charged (some might say not) – seems it would still give the average person pause to entrust themselves to his care – on the allegation alone.
2: It seems foolish for him to claim credentials he does not have, since this is easily discovered – trust issue again. Appears he is opening himself to lawsuits: It has been said that he is a competent practitioner but what happens if by chance one of his new patients suffered some [expected/ common(?)] complication/ even something explained during the patient’s informed consent – how would the patient be expected to judge between lack of knowledge/ incompetence/ something that should have been predicted pre-operatively. There would be questions just based on the false credential claim alone.
3. A prophet is not without honor except in his own country? – Why are they not trusting Dr. Ishmael to speak on what is right for patients & people of Barbados using the credentials, training, skills & experience he has acquired? Is there something specific that is not being said? Seems that whether or not the time for examination of Sparman’s credentials expired or whatever the situation, he lied (by omission or commission) & should be censured for that & whether Dr. Ishmael wrote on official paper or toilet paper – should be immaterial – the message, not the medium should be the focus. Surely Barbadians are too smart at this point to let their thinking be obfuscated by power plays that try to kafuffle them. Something occurred that allowed Dr. Sparman to circumvent the processes and hang out his shingle almost with impunity.
4: Dr. Ishmael has been put on paid leave while the “investigation” proceeds; has the care of the patient in question been transferred to Dr. Sparman? Is Dr Sparman also being investigated in this interval or is he still practicing in his new clinic? Does Dr. Sparman have enough qualified trained staff in the event of a crisis or emergency – or would they have to be sent back to QEH?
5: If Dr. Sparman is poaching patients – either with the assistance of someone in the hospital or someone who has access to patients’ information/ files – are those people going to be sanctioned for breach of confidentiality? However, It seems that he might have been getting so out of line and doing it once too often to a physician who is rendering services with a bare minimum of support to poor Barbadians (please note that it is not FREE care – many of these “poor” people paid – BIG – a different currency).
6: Finally – We all know the “good ol’ boys’/ girls’ network” is everywhere not just B’dos & has always existed. Perhaps a different colour/ tone/ connection/ “godfather”/ political party/ combination and when all else failed money sometimes had the loudest voice. As we all know the network has always functioned to keep some out/ others in; expose some/ protect others; disenfranchise others/ reward some and therefore promotions/ rewards/ advancements are not always according to pure merit. I guess when it becomes too blatant or too unfair & people with enough clout have become too tired & have had enough – they open their mouth & things fall apart. It’ll be interesting to see the result this time around.
Quoting Maggie “maggie | December 28, 2010 at 1:16 AM |
I have a few questions/ thoughts:
1: Whether or not Dr. Sparman is truly guilty of sexual abuse we will never really know.”
But Maggie Dr. Sparman’s conviction is a matter of public record. So YES WE DO KNOW.