A Happy Republic Day to Mr. Frederick Kissoon

Feb 22, 2012 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
On Monday (Feb. 20) I read Mr. Frederick Kissoon’s response (KN February 19, 2012) to a letter I wrote (KN January 29, 2012) criticizing his column (KN January 18, 2012) that called for the dismissal of a medical doctor who refused to re-write a prescription for Mr. Kissoon’s friend. Though I would like to thank Mr. Kissoon for acknowledging my letter and taking the time to respond, I thought his language was most unfortunate. I only wish to clarify my position on the matter, and though his letter was discourteous, I will continue to be respectful.
At the outset let me say that I am not championing the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, as I believe they have their own paid public relations staff. I would also add that I’m unaware of the identity of the doctor in question.
My point is simple, Mr. Kissoon was wrong to call for the doctor’s dismissal because she refused to re-write a prescription as she was within her rights. It can easily be verified with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation that doctors working at the Accident and Emergency Department are not allowed to write prescriptions to be filled at the pharmacy.
The ethical issue of re-writing a patient’s prescription can also be confirmed. The fact that another doctor wrote the prescription does not refute this. Of course the doctor should have explained her reasons to the patient and either made arrangements for him to have the medications, or sought advice on the way forward. This was already said in my original letter and is repeated here.
Mr. Kissoon’s letter now adds that the doctor was rude and offered no advice, but in my defence, his column to which I responded made no such accusations. Based on his letter, he now calls for an investigation into the matter, a position much unlike his previous one. To this, I have no issues.
Mr. Kissoon can be assured that while I will continue to read his column, I will offer no further criticisms, as I do not wish to engage in an uncivil discourse simply because I disagree with him. I wish him, and the rest of Guyana, Happy Republic Day.
Rondell Benn