BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE St. Kitts-Nevis Medical and Dental Association (SKNMDA) has come out to support the position taken by the now embattled Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Martin, on the Stem Cell/Regenerative Medicine debacle.
Dr. Martin has been at the center of the ongoing scandal surrounding a regenerative medicine therapy programme that was carried out at the JNF Hospital, where he claimed that an unlicensed overseas doctor was engaging or overlooking proceedings.
The SKNMDA, in a press statement, indicated that they fully support the practice of evidence-based medicine and research involving human subjects that is legally established and ethically monitored by accepted standards.
Such standards, the SKNMDA pointed out, are those recommended by the World Health Organization’s Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related Research with Human Participants.
“It is imperative for our protection as a profession and a people that standards be rigorously set, maintained and monitored. We recognised the St. Kitts and Nevis Medical Board and any ethical board that may be convened under governing legislation, as our guardians in such issues. We acknowledge and support the role of the CMO, in ensuring that these standards be upheld.”
According to the Association, the Medical Board should be allowed to function in its legally prescribed roles, which include 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.
The government has been very vocal over the scandal which surprised many in the Federation, even pointing out that the doctor whom the Chief Medical Officer claimed was unlicensed and was practicing at the facility was merely overlooking the regenerative medicine operations.
But the SKNMDA stated in its release that “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”, since all members of that body are duly registered.
“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.
“While the SKNMDA 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 Government and Opposition continue to trade words over the legality of the procedure and why it is being practice without proper legislation being implemented.
