Embattled doctor Gilbertha St. Rose has responded in kind to her suspension and fine by the island’s Medical and Dental Council by challenging its legitimacy, calling for its dissolution and saying she also plans to take the matter of the judgment against her to court.
The Council, in keeping with its legal mandate, called Dr St. Rose to a special hearing to respond to allegations that she broke the law by prescribing and making available to patients an illegal drug, in this case Ivermectin, which is not an approved medicine here, for treatment of COVID-19 illnesses.
After a four-hour hearing last week where she was represented, the Medical Council found the doctor guilty of dismissing warnings by the island’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sharon Belmar George, to cease and desist from prescribing and distributing the said illegal drug.
The Council, within its legal powers, suspended Dr St Rose for six months and fined her $10,000 to be paid before the suspension is over, but also with the right of appeal.
But Dr St Rose, who has defied the Council all the way, with backing from activists and at least one prominent local lawyer, has again thrown the gauntlet to the Council, questioning its legitimacy and instructing her lawyer to take the Council to Court.
She did not indicate whether she is taking the Council to Court or appealing its decisions, but it’s clear the doctor does not wish to engage with the council anymore and will put her fate in the hands of a court of law.
Human Rights Lawyer Mary Francis has come out in support of Dr St. Rose, saying the Council’s decision was “too harsh” and claiming the doctor will not be able to pay the fine if she is unlicensed.
But Dr St Rose has made it clear she will not go down without a fight and apart from hinting there may be Conflicts of Interest at play, she’s also inviting clients to continue consulting and calling on her.
Dr. St Rose was quoted as having declared that “the Council must come under scrutiny regarding possible infiltration and corruption.”
But if suspension of her license was supposed to be a punishment, Dr St Rose has also devised a formula to escape.
She told the press on Thursday that while her license as a medical practitioner had been frozen by the Council, she was nonetheless “also a registered and licensed herbalist” and would therefore be able to offer services in that capacity.
Dr. St Rose invited anyone wishing for her services to come to her clinic, where they will also be assisted by other licensed doctors, “who will be able to provide whatever I can’t…”
On Thursday, Dr St Rose issued the following press release:
Given the decision rendered by the Medical and Dental Council [Saint Lucia,W.I.], dated November 23, 2021, one has to question whether this is an abuse of power, a show of vindictiveness, and egoism, – a manifestation of being unsuccessful at medical tyranny.
I do not believe that this action stems from lack of education or disinformation on the efficacy and safety of Ivermectin but rather, it is an attempt to exert power over the lives of Saint Lucians while serving the interests of the Pharmaceutical Companies.
Scrutiny must be given to the possible infiltration and corruption of our Medical
and Dental Council by the powers that do not want anything to jeopardize the mass distribution of COVID -19 injections and the impending release of 2 new oral anti covid drugs ready to be rolled out under emergency use authorisation.
Medical and professional autonomy in the use of an approved drug being used off label safely and efficaciously, occurs with many other drugs including Ivermectin in the private and even public sectors.
The 2 reasons for my suspension are:
1. Prescribing and supplying Ivermectin to my patients as a treatment for COVID-19 in the absence of authorisation for said use by the Ministry of Health or the Chief Medical Officer, and
2. For publicly encouraging the use of Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID- 19.
Ivermectin is an inexpensive drug that has proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 and has saved many lives the world over. To dis-allow the use of Ivermectin, and allow Saint Lucians to languish and even die is unconscionable and the Medical and Dental Council and the Chief Medical Officer must be held accountable for the actions in choosing to allow death instead of giving Saint Lucians a fighting chance against the COVID-19 virus.
Where is the harm in using a drug that has been in use for over 40 years and has proven to be extremely safe? Ivermectin has been used successfully in India, Japan, Mexico, Jamaica and other countries in the treatment of COVID-19 and is recommended by many doctors including Dr. Pierre Kory and Dr Tess Lawrie.
I will continue to reassure and educate my people of the effectiveness and safety of using Ivermectin among other measures to treat and prevent COVID-19 infection.
The Medical and Dental Council and the Chief Medical Officer have abdicated their responsibility of treating Saint Lucians for the COVID-19 virus and I will not be a part of their plan to undermine the people of our country.
There is also collusion by the Ministry of Health which is presently preventing the release from customs of a shipment of Ivermectin which is not only for off label use for COVID-19 infection but also for the treatment for scabies, lice, rosacea and also parasites, as has been used and imported into Saint Lucia for many years now.
Our people are being deprived.
We resolve to move for the dissolution of this Medical and Dental Council for their bias approach in handling the health and well-being of Saint Lucians and for acting against the rights of Citizenry to choose medical treatment in consultation with their physician. We deserve justice and free choice for all.
I have instructed my legal counsel acting for me to file a claim against the Medical and Dental Council in respect of their decision handed down on December 2, 2021.
I call on all persons who would like us to operate under truth, love and light, including my health practitioner colleagues to stand up and act on this. I thank our Freedom Coalition SLU and all our supporters and advocates for free choice and better health the world over.
We fully support and come under the umbrella of World Council for Health where health professionals are providing unbiased information on the treatment of COVID-19 including the use of Ivermectin. https://worldcouncilforhealth.org.
I will continue to offer my services under my other banner of a registered and licensed herbalist. Thank you for your collaboration at restoring justice, truth and freedom of choice.
However, Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr Andre Matthew, while not responding directly to Dr St Rose, also issued a statement Thursday explaining ‘The Role of the Council and other health authorities” and pointing out that the errant doctor had violated five basic rules provided for, by law, under the Medical Practitioners Act.
There is a GOD above who, in this 21st Century, patiently views the heightened state of wickedness that has engulfed the great corporations of this world.
They, who have seized the reins of justice, judgement, truth and equity from the hands of governments and courts and placed them in the service of greed, malfeasance, violence and plunder to fill hell with the souls of an afflicted generation..
Like Pharaoh pursuing DELIVERANCE in the belly of two rising walls of damnation, they take away the rights of the sick and suffering; they embezzle the poor, and the widow,; they turn away the fatherless and needy. In the gates from their rights.
Therefore, the law is slacked and judgement never goes on for the wicked take advantage of the righteous, so wrong judgment proceeds
The man or woman who has the guts to stands against their manifold transgressions and mighty sins becomes a prey.
Today, pandemic stocks are worth billions in the market. From face masks to vaccines, big corporations have claimed an iron clad monopoly on pharmaceutical products in the throes of this pandemic
But there is a GOD above paying close attention to the hubris, arrogance and rebellion of the great corporations who bribe their henchmen to block justice, muzzle judgement, cast truth in the streets and sell equity to dogs.
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of GOD’S wrath…
When the nations are rejoicing, they will be made desolate for healing is at the behest of HE alone who controls all on earth.
Fear not the reviling of the great man, for the sword of retribution is pointed at his gate, and, like Nebuchadnezzar, he will be brought to his knees to acknowledge the DEVINE might.