Unfortunately, the use of the 'was' is imperative here.
As he is certainly well aware of, the Oncology department is perhaps one of the most delicate ones and deserves to be handled sensibly. For that very reason, his latest tantrums neither befit a person of his calibre, nor do they the department.
When he alleged - so nonchalantly, to worsen matters - that some have died due to sheer negligence ("chemo toxicity") on part of the supposed experts, he should have known that he would hurt people. Not everyone is an expert, as he knows very well. Who will explain to those still mourning that their mother, brother, sister, or cousin wasn't supposed to have left them so prematurely?
In other words, how will people be sure that their dead ones really received the best treatment possible? Are we to start doubting doctors when some patients do not make it through an operation?
No, we should not, because Prof. Brincat has clearly stated that those deaths occurred due to the fact that the Gozo Hospital does not provide its patients with doctors who are proficient enough in the field. He has not, though, come forward with cast-iron facts. Nothing is yet tangible; people will merely discuss these allegations at length. And you know the Maltese, these allegations, with the passing of time, will be thought of as veracious facts.
However, the same professor fails to realise that he was the Head of Department when this wrongdoing was taking place. If he is as earnest as he wants this nation to believe, he must tell us why it is only now that he is acquainting the people with the disastrous service they are apparently being given.
Couldn't he have said such things before? Early enough, perhaps, to avoid the alleged deaths? One would not want to think that this venerated professor is only doing this because his words on certain matters were not deemed decisive, as he was expecting them to be.
The Minister of Health said he has already started looking into the matter. In all honesty, for the sake of this professor and all the progress in the Oncology department, one hopes the outcome of this investigation will bear him out. It would be pitiable to think of him as capricious
In other words, how will people be sure that their dead ones really received the best treatment possible? Are we to start doubting doctors when some patients do not make it through an operation?
No, we should not, because Prof. Brincat has clearly stated that those deaths occurred due to the fact that the Gozo Hospital does not provide its patients with doctors who are proficient enough in the field. He has not, though, come forward with cast-iron facts. Nothing is yet tangible; people will merely discuss these allegations at length. And you know the Maltese, these allegations, with the passing of time, will be thought of as veracious facts.
However, the same professor fails to realise that he was the Head of Department when this wrongdoing was taking place. If he is as earnest as he wants this nation to believe, he must tell us why it is only now that he is acquainting the people with the disastrous service they are apparently being given.
Couldn't he have said such things before? Early enough, perhaps, to avoid the alleged deaths? One would not want to think that this venerated professor is only doing this because his words on certain matters were not deemed decisive, as he was expecting them to be.
The Minister of Health said he has already started looking into the matter. In all honesty, for the sake of this professor and all the progress in the Oncology department, one hopes the outcome of this investigation will bear him out. It would be pitiable to think of him as capricious
Prof Brincat was always a very obnoxious doctor. He barely spoke to his patients as my cousin is witness to. He is serious because as you say his job is a very serious one but in reality he could try to be nicer with the patients going through such difficult times.
ReplyDeleteIf what Professor Brincat is saying is true, then something must be done as soon as possible. Cancer patients suffer a lot and the disease kills them from within very slowly already, their dignity should be respected till the very end. Being poisoned by the same treatment that is supposed to make you feel better is horrible. My family has experienced the suffering caused by cancer because my father had cancer and at least it wasn't cancer that killed him. He died of a heart attack during an operation when he was still under anaesthetic, so technically he died in his sleep. The most dignified death of all, I think.
ReplyDeleteWe are very sorry to hear that, JP. What you say is absolutely true. These people go through hell when they try to overcome this horrendous disease, so trying your utmost to save them is the least one could do. If there is even the slightest idea that there may be wrongdoing, then action must be taken promptly... certainly not waiting till it's too late.
DeleteBdejt nistennikom tiktbu fuq din ukoll ghax xejn ma jaharbilkom, hux hekka?
ReplyDeleteWell said guys!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this one. I think that if he knew something was wrong and people were suffering from it, then he should've spoken up not kept it hidden under the carpet till he resigned. And retracting won't help him now.
ReplyDeleteIt's shameful if he knew some died because of lack of expertise as he claims and only told the public about it now. That's gross professional misconduct.
ReplyDelete