–if formal complaints are made, says Guyana Medical Council

THE Guyana Medical Council (GMC) has reportedly not received any formal complaint that doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) have repeatedly been misdiagnosing patients, resulting in their lengthened stay in the hospital and sometimes their deaths.GMC Secretary Dr. Juanita Johnson told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the Council has not heard of the accusations, but any formal complaint made to the Council would be thoroughly investigated.

The Guyana Nurses Association (GNA), in a press statement issued on Friday, said: “If deaths in other departments are investigated like those in the Maternity Unit, it will shock the nation, as wrong diagnosis and poor management contribute to an alarming number of deaths, and nurses are aware. Are we the ones who misdiagnosed the patients and caused them longer hospitalisation stay, increasing mortality and morbidity rates?” the GNA asked.

The GNA suggested that doctors at the institution “spend time conducting research to improve their clinical practice, and leave the nurses to do nursing management; (since) the registered nurse has knowledge, skills and competency, and always displays same.”

Efforts by the Guyana Chronicle to contact either Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton or Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud for comment on the issue have been unsuccessful.