Five Years Without Bread?
cavan |
miscellaneous |
opinion/analysis 
Wednesday September 10, 2003 10:12
by Sean Crudden - impero
sean.crudden at iol dot ie
Jenkinstown, Dundalk
042 93 71310
Surgeons Suspended in Cavan General.
Two surgeons have been placed on suspension without pay. What are the issues involved?
Going by the Sunday Tribune (24 August 2003) the NEHB have decided to take the "nuclear" option and place two surgeons at Cavan General Hospital on suspension without pay. The process thus set in train will - from my experience - take a minimum of five years from first to last until these individuals can possibly resume the practice of their profession. Meanwhile their highly honed and polished surgical skills (which are apparently not in question) will fust (to use a Shakespearean term) in disuse.
Five years is a long time without bread - and there may be young families of these men to consider, too. It seems to me that the action of the NEHB in the matter is not only disproportionate but downright capricious and cruel. Surely it is a matter of day-to-day administration to unravel the tangles of small interpersonal disputes (and that is all that seems to be at issue here) in order to smooth and iron out human relations which are as likely to be fraught in a hospital as they are in a school or factory or hotel or a newspaper office.
It reminds me of what often used to happen in the old days in school. The weak teacher having lost control of his class pulls out the strap to pulverise his charges into silence and "discipline."
From another point of view, perhaps, if more argument and discussion and debate had been tolerated in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital it would not have turned out to be the cesspit of medical scandal it now appears to have been.
In conclusion let me assure you that I have no political or family connection with either of the two men involved nor have I consulted either of them before committing pen to paper on their case.
My only connection with them is that I am a member of the same human race as they are and I hope that some means can be found before it is too late to temper the macho act of the NEHB in this instance.
We were all poignantly reminded recently, during the early stages of The Hutton Enquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly, that the employer has a duty of care to her employee.
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4it is certainly unfortunate for the surgeons involved that they are out of pocket,and work for the time being.....they are qualified to work (for goood money!) in a non-clinical field
as i understand these men were struck off for blatantly unnecessary hysterectomies in women who did not require them and who had their future fertility chopped away...having witnessed much surgery,i can say it's not pleasant.another aspect of these cases is that concerned juniors made no attempt to question the procedures,though they were uncomfortable about some of them.....a product of a hierarchical and aggressive teaching system....if they were sloppy surgeons they would not have been struck off(they would never have qualified),they were maniacal and loved to cut.....they had it coming
patients have the choice about their treatment and no procedure should be carried out without express consent,preferably written,these surgeons got no permission...and since the patients rely on reasonable advice from sane and careful staff for guidance these events teach a good lesson...trust the trustworthy
Hold on a minute, son. Your are confusing the case of Dr Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where all those hysterectomies took place with a totally different scenario in Cavan General Hospital.
There may be more to the matter than "small interpersonal disputes". By all accounts medically both are skilled men.
However there have been a number of complaints of bullying against one by various medical staff including by the other suspened man who complained of racist and insulting comments.
A compliant of "unethical behaviour" (whatever that is) is been made against the other fellow.
As far as i know both deny any wrongdoing and a committee is been established by the NEHB or the minister, but no timescale had been set for same.
The worrying thing is we have seen in Monaghan General how a fully serviced hospital can change even in a short time. There is now no accident and emergency service or maternity ward in Monaghan. It was not done in an open and transparent manner. There is now only one permenant Consultant Surgeon attached to Cavan General. Temporary locums have replaced the two suspended surgeons but a watchful eye should be maintained here, we have seen a weakening of health services in the Cavan/Monaghan area which is becoming intolerable.
I have many friends and relations (incl. both parents) working in the hospital and the Doctors were indeed suspended over slanging matches and allegations of bullying. There was no suggestion of negligence by either party.
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