WILLEMSTAD .- In a press release that seems more like a verdict of the Court/Judge, the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature through its Inspector sr. Jan Huurman, reported of a sanction that would be imposed on St. Elizabeth Hospital to force the re-entry of surgeon M, whom SEHOS has still under investigation. Mr. Huurman issued a statement in which he informed that the Health Inspection decided to impose a sanction against SEHOS, to allow surgeon M. continue exercising operations without any restriction and that this should happen by September 1, 2018.
According to Huurman in the event that SEHOS does not comply with the orders of the Inspection for the aforementioned date, they will have to levy a daily fine of Fl.10,000 for each day for not complying and up to a maximum of Fl. 500,000
Accoring to Huurman the Board of Directors of SEHOS, has taken too long to reestablish him in its functions and normalize its relations with SEHOS. This mainly deals with the situation of the Operations Room, and the relationships between the groups of surgeons, anesthesia and gynecology. Until today the Board of Directors has not been able to deliver a specific time schedule for the return of Mr. M.
The Inspection considers that the case of the prolonged reincorporation of surgeon M. is irresponsible based on the following considerations:
- Without any foundation, the good name of Surgeon M. is being harmed and his abilities and performance are also hindered.
- There is a lack of gynecologists in SEHOS, and as such the waiting periods for operations has increased. The lack of surgeons puts pressure on those that currently are working.
- The increase in the financial need of SEHOS, being that the Board of Directors regularly complains constantly about the lack of financial means. SEHOS did continue to pay M. even though they not receiving payment from SVB. SVB reduced the SEHOS budget because M is not producing.
Extra tried to get in touch with the Minister of Health, Suzy Camelia-Romer to obtain information on the magnitude of the power that the Inspection could have to apply such a drastic sanction against SEHOS, and if this sanction is perfectly in accordance with the law, but our efforts were unsuccessful.
As is known, based on the claims of the SEHOS workers in the operation room itself, Mr. Huurman conducted an investigation. It was claimed that M. is responsible for malpractice and serious medical malpractice. The Inspection carried out its investigations only a few days, but allowed M. to continue operating. After concluding that nothing wrong happened, SEHOS choose to do its own investigation and placed M. on the list of inactive with payment.
This action exercised by Mr. Huurman recalls the case of surgeon Patrick Fa-Si-Oen, who was questioned about the authenticity of his diplomas. It turned out that all his papers and documents were in correct order. But nobody asked for the reinstatement of this doctor to his work in order to honor his good name
