BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – The St. Kitts & Nevis Medical and Dental Association (SKNMDA) has broken its silence on the JNF Hospital stem cell scandal and has confirmed it was a stem cell/regenerative medicine therapy carried out recently at the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital.
In a statement Tuesday the SKNMDA supported the actions taken by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Patrick Martin, in ensuring that research involving human subjects is legally established and ethically upheld and monitored.
Without direct reference to the Brazilian doctor found supervising the Stem Cell Project on the Private Ward of the hospital, the SKNMDA stated that she should have been registered and licenced as laid out in the Medical Act.
In the statement the SKNMDA said while it supports the practice of medicine that is evidence-based medicine and research involving human subjects that is legally established and ethically monitored by accepted standards, “it is imperative for our protection as a profession and a people that standards be rigorously set, maintained and monitored.”
The medical fraternity said it recognises the St. Kitts and Nevis Medical Board and any ethical board that may be convened under governing legislation, as its guardians in such issues, specifically pointing out that it “acknowledges and supports the role of the CMO, in ensuring that these standards be upheld.”
The SKNMDA is of the firm view that the Medical Board should be allowed to function in its legally prescribed roles, including the registration of health practitioners and monitoring their competence to practice as is laid out in the Medical Act, without interference from political or other entities.
It further stated that every member of the SKNMDA is legally registered with the Medical Board to practise their craft within the federation, and hence the Association supports the legal position that no individual should be allowed to partake in any medical or dental activity, whether hands-on or supervisory, without being duly registered as is laid out in the Medical Act.
This seems to be in reference to comments by Minister of State with responsibility for Health, Sen. the Hon. Wendy Phipps that the Brazilian doctor found in the Private Ward at the JNF Hospital with gloves on and a stetescope around her neck and was not registered to practice in St Kitts and Nevis was only observing stem cell procedures.
The SKNMDA is of the view that all physicians working in any health institution within the Federation should be informed when any new policies, practices or therapies are being implemented that will affect their functioning and delivery of healthcare.
It added that while it welcomes and encourages innovation, “we accept the sacred trust society has placed in our profession and reiterate our adherence to the principles enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath (or modern version thereof which the SKNMDA prescribes as a condition for membership) to promote best practices amongst our membership.”
The St Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association is also of the view that “any proposed study must not expose physicians to increased liability because of poor design and lack of clear procedural details in its design.”