CMO Dr. Patrick Martin is convinced that his sudden departure from the office last Friday had to do with an ongoing stem cell research project at the JNF General Hospital that was not appropriately approved.
Speaking to local radio Saturday, Dr. Martin advised that his office is the competent authority to advise and sanction the stem cell project, but this instance he was bypassed. Martin pointed out that he raised his objection to the project this past week because it was not properly sanctioned as required by law and that a non- resident doctor involved in doing the stem cell research at the JNF was not licensed to practice in the federation.
Meanwhile Minister of Health the Hon Eugene Hamilton when asked if the project had received the necessary approvals as required by law said the project had been sanctioned by the cabinet of the TUG.
Dr. Patrick Martin, who at 58 years is 3 years past the retirement age, believes that the incident over the stem cell project may have precipitated the move by the TUG to remove him as CMO.
On Freedom Fm’s Newdesk on Friday, Dr Martin said over the past 16 months of the TUG taking office, he was aware that it was only a matter of time before he would be sent home.