A local doctor is being criticised severely for reportedly refusing to do surgery on a child who was shot recently. There have been several calls for the doctor to step down (with much of it shared on social media) and some individuals are calling for a complete boycott of the doctor’s services or for her license to be revoked.
The Backstory
The situation began when the mother of the six-year-old, Brittney Paul, sought assistance through the media as she was unable to pay her daughter’s medical bill. (Her daughter was reportedly shot by stray bullets in Dennery earlier this month).
An invoice shared on social media provided a breakdown of the cost.
According to the invoice, the surgery would cost $8,500.00 with the Hospital Fee at St Jude’s coming to $4,500.00. The anesthesiologist fee came to a total of $1,500.00.
But the mother told HTS NewsForce that the doctor who was set to perform surgery on her daughter Julia withdrew her services because of the media attention the situation had gotten.
“The doctor gave me (an) invoice saying that the surgery would cost $14,500.00 … so I was looking for help because I don’t have the money. When I went back to the doctor… she told me (that’s) all on the media (and) Facebook (and) she (doesn’t) deal with the media… so she will not do the (child’s) surgery anymore. If I want to go to Martinique and pay my $50,000 or Barbados. but she’s not going to do the child’s surgery anymore just because of that,” Paul claimed.
The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) released a statement in response to the situation after it caused much outrage on Facebook.
“We have become aware of the widespread discussion on social media concerning the follow-up care of a six-year-old resident of Dennery who sustained severe injuries from a gunshot wound to the head earlier this month.
First and foremost, we deeply empathise with the young patient and her family. As an Association, we are committed to supporting her recovery. Her journey will be long, requiring not only physical healing but also crucial psychological care to ensure that her recuperation is as complete as possible and that she can look forward to a fulfilling and bright future,” the SLMDA said in its statement.
Moreover, it added, “While we understand the heightened emotions surrounding this tragic situation, we are deeply concerned by the recent negative comments made on social media about one of our esteemed physicians. It is important to state that healthcare is complex and multifaceted. We urge the public to exercise caution and avoid rushing to judgment without being fully informed.
The physician involved in this case has provided exemplary care to the people of Saint Lucia for more than three decades. Like many physicians who recognize the financial burden that healthcare can place on a significant portion of the population, she has often offered her services free of charge or at discounted rates to many underprivileged Saint Lucians.”
Additionally, the Ministry of Health, “recognizing the healthcare challenges faced by many, has continued to absorb costs through the Medical Assistance Programme, enabling patients to access vital care that might otherwise be unaffordable, including diagnostic procedures like CT scans and complex surgeries”, the SLMDA said.
“It is important to remember that the cost of healthcare procedures is significant worldwide, and what may appear exorbitant locally is, in fact, often much lower than in other countries.
It is well known that our healthcare professionals work tirelessly under strenuous conditions to provide the highest standard of care to every patient they serve. Negative and unsubstantiated comments in the public domain can not only harm the reputation but the sheer will of dedicated doctors and also undermine the trust and confidence that the public places in our healthcare system. A breach of this trust, on either side, undermines the patient-provider relationship. In such instances, the ethical course of action is referral to another colleague or specialist, as has been done in this case,” the SLDMA stated.
According to the statement, the incident “once again brings to the fore the broader issue of the impact of crime on healthcare.”
“As we reflect on the long-term impact that crime has on healthcare, both in terms of the physical and emotional toll on victims, their families, and the healthcare professionals who treat them, we urge every Saint Lucian to stand up, speak out, and play a role in curbing violent crime. If you see something, say something. Leaders and law enforcement must do more to aggressively reduce gun violence in our country. Our citizens, particularly our children, must be protected at all costs,” the SLMDA noted.
“We as an Association will continue to advocate for our health care practitioners, who have consistently demonstrated their dedication to providing compassionate and expert care to the people of this country. We also stand with all citizens in condemning the violence that has plagued our communities and pledge to continue working to ensure that healthcare remains accessible, safe, and responsive to the needs of everyone,” the statement concluded.
The mother of the six-year-old said she will be receiving assistance from another doctor in Saint Lucia, however, who said that “he saw everything (that’s) going on, on Facebook. We have to go back to him (on) the 18th of November so when we get there he will arrange everything.”
“He (said) the surgery can be done in Saint Lucia,” she added.
The Ministry of Health will be taking on a significant chunk of the medical cost, according to the HTS report.