AS Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis gave his national address yesterday on the latest state of the battle against coronavirus, there was one note that sounded odd.
Dr Minnis appealed – in fact, he said it was a “strong appeal” – to doctors in private practice to help in the fight against COVID-19 “during this hour of great need”.
He said he wanted more of his former colleagues to join the fight, and then referred to the way in which AIDS patients were treated in the 1980s and 1990s when there was a stigma over touching patients.
What was that about? Well, turn to the story in today’s Tribune about the response of the Bahamas Doctors Union and you will find out.
The union has sent a letter out to members and what it exposes is a debate over how doctors should get involved.
Dr Melisande Bassett, the president of the union, said that she has submitted a list of medical professionals who are willing to offer their services – but with conditions.
Some were “willing to have direct contact with COVID-19 patients”. But others? Oh no, no contact for them. She said those with “premorbid conditions that put them at high risk” only wanted to assist with telephone contact or history taking. Others wanted to man phone lines for non-COVID-19 issues.
Others still said that they hadn’t had proper training in putting on and removing personal protective equipment or masks.
Yet more talked about having elderly parents or family members who were vulnerable and wanted somewhere to stay away from home while they helped.
In the midst of a national emergency, a battle the Prime Minister has likened to a war, the call to arms has been answered with a resounding maybe. Perhaps. Oh, can I do that job or this job? This is not showing up in force and saying how can we help? So that’s why Dr Minnis referred to the stigma of the early days of treating AIDS patients – to remind doctors of what they’re supposed to do.
That’s why Dr Minnis said he himself would return to treating patients if that’s what it takes – to remind doctors of the oath they have sworn to help.
We are reminded of the story of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, a British medical doctor who served in the army during the First World War. He was injured by shell splinters while rescuing men in no man’s land between the trenches in 1916, and then again in 1917 went out repeatedly under heavy fire to tend to the wounded. He was one of only three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice.
These are our trenches today, this is the battle we must fight – and those in the position to do so, those who have sworn an oath must rise to the occasion, must serve in this war.
If you don’t know how to put on equipment? Learn.
The government must play its part – but Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has already indicated the provision of accommodation for healthcare workers. So if the government is showing up then it’s time too for the doctors to show up.
In years to come, some will ask doctors what part they played in the battle against coronavirus. Doctors, do you really want the answer to be that you sat at home answering phones? Do you want the answer to be that you wanted to help but you didn’t know how to put on a mask?
The Prime Minister is ready to put his gloves back on and go back to treating patients – are you?
The Bahamas needs you. It’s time to show up.
Comments
joeblow 4 years ago
Dr Minnis appealed – in fact, he said it was a “strong appeal” – to doctors in private practice to help in the fight against COVID-19 “during this hour of great need”.
That's funny because during this last lockdown, all private medical facilities were closed during the lockdown (if I am not mistaken). How could he want them to help in the "fight" but not allow them to work?
Maybe we should all talk to doctors we know and find out if any of them have confidence in the way Minnis and team are handling this situation! I know what the people I have spoken to have said!
tell_it_like_it_is 4 years ago
Honestly, I think all of the doctors concerns are valid.
No one can be forced to give up their lives to save another. So I can't blame these doctors. HIV is a totally different kettle of fish. It's a sexually transmitted disease so the risk to the doctors would be minimal.
This represents a real risk to them and/or elderly family members. So anyone has the right to chose the way in which they serve. There is a real risk of death here and how many of us are willing to give up our lives or our parents lives to save another?
If they have valid concerns about PPE, I don't blame them. It is their right to choose.
stillwaters 4 years ago
My God......this is what doctors taking an oath to save lives has come to.......too scared, hiding behind parents, too fat, are diabetic, have hypertension.......looks like we need to take the oath to save doctors. Well....nurses will once again take the lead......hats off to our nurses!!!!!!
ThisIsOurs 4 years ago
The only people I know who take an oath to give up their lives to save others are soldiers. Doctors are not soldiers even if you want to slap titles of war and battle on the current situation. Doctors take an oath to *first do no harm*. I take that to mean they won't use their patients as guinea pigs while performing medical services.
Let Dr Minnis don his white coat and go in there to volunteer to take covid 19 patient vital readings. That would be ridiculous. He has another job to do. I say the same for the lowliest doctor. Why send an at risk doctor into a situation where they have a high risk of dying when its completely unnecessary. They currently have 8 people in hospital, they have a remote monitoring room, theres no need for dramatics at least not now. hopefully never.
mandela 4 years ago
I am sure these Doctors with private offices are living and enjoying a much higher standard of living than Governmental Doctors or registered Nurses, just like the government Doctors and all licensed Doctors they make a sworn commitment to the profession to save lives, this is a war, a battle, if the Bahamas was being invaded on a larger scale different from what is happening now on a smaller scale with foreigners invasion and the alarm is called to go out and fight for the country existence, can I without any military knowledge say I can't because I have no training or I can't because I don't know how to put on a helmet or shoot a gun? The answer is no because if I say No I ain't nothing but a traitor. Dr, Minnis is correct, this is your profession Private Doctors go on the battlefield and FIGHT.
xtreme2x 4 years ago
IF DOCTORS ARE AFRAID TO TEND THEIR OWN PEOPLE WITHOUT CONDITIONS. THEN IT;S TIME DOC. LOOK ELSE WHERE TO BRING IN HELP.
ThisIsOurs 4 years ago
it makes no sense to put an asthmatic doctor knowingly in close proximity to a covid positive patient. I don't see any issue with the remote consulation. Historically doctors have been asked for their expert advice based on a listing of symptoms alone never even seeing the patient
mckenziecpa 4 years ago
Why do we need more doctors will a hand full of patience the government need beds, ventilation and facialties this virus don't have a standard protocol so what good having a bunch of white suites and no hospital or proper quarantine facialties
KK2p 4 years ago
This article really doesn't make sense. Most junior doctors represented by the BDU do not work in the private sector. Private sector is largely comprised of consultant doctors. As a matter of fact the Bahamas has legislation against being a 'private' junior doctor since 2014. Private physicians are mostly represented by the CPSA or 'consultants' union.
Furthermore the apprehension is not just in the Bahamas but worldwide so this is not a local problem.
Additionally, EMT's (ambulance drivers) recently did not even report to work over the same safety concerns but no editorial was written about them. They work in the public and private sector. Also today the nurses also presented similar fears as they toured the South Beach Clinic, similarly no editorial has been written about them.
Honestly there is really a lack of appreciation of the heavily subsidized healthcare system and pharmaceuticals that they benefit from that has always been woefully under-resourced (and losing tons of money each year due to lack of any reasonable payment from patients; even the 15 or 20 dollar registration fee) from even before this outbreak. So please give those who work in the overburdened system a break for once, even 1st world healthcare systems are concerned (yes, even the almighty USA and UK).
birdiestrachan 4 years ago
Doctor Minnis and Doctor Sands should step forward and join the fight.
ThisIsOurs 4 years ago
leave Dr Sands out of it.
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