Health officials to address doctors concern

Concerns are mounting among medical staff and patients at the National Chest Hospital in St. Andrew over the practice of a senior doctor at the institution.



Some doctors said they have no confidence in working with Consultant Vascular and Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Dennis Pyne, who has been registered with the Medical Council since August 8, 1971.



The consultant surgeon previously had his medical licence to practise in Ontario, Canada suspended in 2004.



The College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario also took disciplinary action against Pyne in 2002.



One man, a former patient at the National Chest, said that he was forced to leave the hospital, after he was unable to come up with the money charged by Pyne for his surgery.



Another former patient described her experience at the hospital as scary, after Dr. Pyne told her about plans for surgery when she was sure he had not seen her test results.



The former patient said she was asked to leave the hospital after she indicated that she would not have the surgical procedure done.



She said Dr. Pyne told her that her healthcare was not free.



The two former patients have since submitted reports to the Medical Council of Jamaica.



Dr. Joseph Blidgen, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital, said he has written several letters to the South East Regional Health Authority, the Medical Council and the Ministry of Health about his concerns.



Dr. Blidgen said concerns about Dr. Pyne’s medical practice and that of the senior medical officer at the hospital Dr. Mikael Tulloch-Reid, were first reported to health officials in January.



Among his concerns was the use of medical equipment by Dr. Pyne for his private practice thus preventing the use by other doctors.



He further claimed that Pyne was charging patients for their medical care, when in fact the Ministry of Health had abolished user fees since April 1.



Chairman of the Medical Council, Dr. Muriel Lowe said that following the disciplinary action taken against Dr. Pyne, by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 2002 and 2004, an enquiry was held in Jamaica on May 10, 2007.



Dr. Lowe declined to say whether the Council had received any complaints against Dr. Pyne since the Enquiry was held stating that she did not think that was information to be shared with the media.



The Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester are among health officials scheduled to discuss the matter at a meeting this morning.