Politics must not affect medical practitioners – Medical Council

The Medical Council of Guyana has cautioned medical practitioners not to allow partisan politics to affect their performance, as the political impasse continues in Guyana.
In a statement, the body reminded that any such act was a violation of ethics and also the principles which underpin their licence to practise. This advice was shared at a time when the political situation is coupled with the serious threat of COVID-19.
According to the Medical Council, it “takes this opportunity to remind all medical practitioners that the medical pandemic with which we are confronted, unfortunately, coincides with a heightened political atmosphere within our society. We, therefore, advise medical practitioners not to allow partisan politics to affect the discharge of their professional functions and duties, and hereby remind them that any such breach can place them in violation of not only the ethics of the medical profession but also the principles which underpin their licence to practise”.
Many health-care workers have been greatly challenged to provide services amid the pandemic, and the Council has advised that it is willing to lend support during this time.
“The Council reiterates its support to all medical practitioners involved in the battle against COVID-19 and, engaged in the provision of health care to all Guyanese…The Council stands ready and able to lend assistance during this period and wishes to encourage practitioners to continue to serve our people diligently, competently, and with the highest professional rectitude. At the same time, we call upon all practitioners to take all precautions necessary to safeguard themselves and their loved ones.”
Commendations were made to those in the medical field who have embraced the risks and continue to provide services to the public.
The Council expressed, “The provision of medical services during this difficult period has required tremendous sacrifice and courage and has exposed medical practitioners to severe personal risks. Medical practitioners have, nonetheless, eagerly embraced the challenges and represented the profession with distinction.”
Under the umbrella of essential services, hospitals were listed along with pharmacies, health care and medical services, drug stores, private veterinary services and nursing homes.

COVID-19 as political weapon
While the Medical Council did not make reference to the incident on Friday whereby A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Chairman Timothy Jonas was asked to get tested for COVID-19, its statement came one day after the issue arose in the public domain.
Jonas believes that the move is a “sinister” attempt to sideline him from the ongoing national elections recount.
Jonas has been outspoken on the events that unfolded since the March 2 polls. Only Thursday, he was at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, where the recounting is being conducted, and expressed concerns during an interview with the media over the pace at which the recount of the March 2 ballots was moving, noting it may exceed the proposed 25-day timeline.
While he did not return to the Conference Centre on Friday, in a social media video, Jonas disclosed that he has since been informed by the Public Health Ministry that it has received a report of him showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
According to the ANUG Chairman, he insisted that the Ministry write him a letter on the issue and he even offered to uplift the correspondence.
Jonas said that he then spoke with a doctor from the Ministry, who he noted was a professional and opted not to divulge his identity.
“I said to him, you’re a doctor; here I am, there you are. As you see, I have no symptoms,” he recalled.
In response, however, the doctor told him that some persons are asymptomatic although they may have the virus – an explanation which Jonas rubbished. He pointed out that how can he be “asymptomatic” when there is a report in the first place claiming that he is displaying “respiratory symptoms”.
“I don’t want to be unkind to the gentleman, but if his letter says that it was reported that I have respiratory symptoms, it’s difficult for me to understand that I don’t have symptoms…but there is this letter and that leads us to a more sinister question – is an attempt being made to sideline people who may be inconvenient to the authorities. You judge for yourself…,” he posited.
To further highlight how ludicrous this entire episode was, Jonas explained that before he went into the Conference Centre on Thursday, health authorities took his temperature and he was told he was fine, hence he was allowed to enter the building.

      GUYANA TIMES.