Jamaican doctors say they will not expose themselves to treat Ebola patients
Doctors in Jamaica do not have access to the essential safety gear necessary to treat ailing patients during an Ebola outbreak.
As a result of this, some have made it known they are simply not willing to attend to Ebola patients in the unfortunate event that the virus reaches the island without adequate protective gear.
According to a report by the Gleaner, a recent workshop held in light of the outbreak in Africa, erupted in concerns after it was disclosed that health officials in Jamaica do not have the requisite hazard-management gear, or even the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved personal protection equipment (PPE) to deal with the Ebola virus. Only standard PPE gear, consisting of a regular fabric medical gown, goggles, and N95 or N100 oxygen masks are available, and these are useless against the disease, the forum of medical doctors, firefighters and other emergency-response workers were told. The N95 can only last for four hours, according to doctors, while the N100 for 24 hours.
“If the Government doesn’t supply us with these things, who is going out to work?” asked one doctor from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the UHWI, sparking murmurs among the gathering.
The doctor hinted at the possibility of an outbreak, suggesting that there are students from countries affected by the virus currently at the University of the West Indies, and frowned on the Government’s lacklustre approach in preparing for the disease, which has presented itself in the United States.
“We don’t have any money in Jamaica, but if it comes, I don’t know how many of us are going to be willing to come to work. We in ICU are not going to deal with it. I’m not going to expose my doctors and nurses to that,” he continued. “So Accident and Emergency will have to decide what they are going to do with the first one (case).”
Source: The Gleaner
I agree with the doctors, why should they put themselves and others at risk because the government fail to provide adequate clothing to protect them? It’s insane to think they would be expected to treat highly infectious patients without protection and it just proves the Jamaican government are cheap and don’t care about anyone except their politicians.
well from our point of view I hope it don’t come here,from my experience we take too long to deal with things god help us.
Jamaicans talk about this virus like its a one man thing…If the government don’t do this…we wont do that…If one man contracts Ebola…Hundred men contracts it…and with the typical Jamaican way of reasoning…Mi naah die alone…So they will want to spread it…Jamaican government better be prepared…and be strict with visitors and tourists coming into the Island from this moment…Jamaica is just an Island of less than 4 million population…It will only take a few months. (If you know what I mean) A word is enough for the wise.
It’s nice to see people praying….. I mean, it seemed the entire island was angry with a certain politician for mentioning and defending his belief in God the other day…. Anyway, may the lord have mercy on our island. We really cannot manage.
It’s nice to see people praying….. I mean, it seemed the entire island was angry with a certain politician for mentioning and defending his belief in God the other day…. Anyway, may the lord have mercy on our island. We really cannot manage.
I have to agree with the doctors but I also sympathies with the people who will be affected… But what do you expect from a government who choose to fly to another country when they get sick for treatment. Not everyone can fly out but they can. What does that tell you about them? It simply means they don’t trust the medical system that they create for the people who vote them into office…. Really sad situation….
I have to agree with the doctors but I also sympathies with the people who will be affected… But what do you expect from a government who choose to fly to another country when they get sick for treatment. Not everyone can fly out but they can. What does that tell you about them? It simply means they don’t trust the medical system that they create for the people who vote them into office…. Really sad situation….
Y we don’t call a state of emergency, we need to put a hold on incoming n outgoing flights for awhile….. Until dis Ebola virus passes…
Y we don’t call a state of emergency, we need to put a hold on incoming n outgoing flights for awhile….. Until dis Ebola virus passes…
The government will spend approximately 3 million u.s on the coming election this season yet their is no money to protect our nation. I hope this serves as an eye opener to why all poleing stations should be empty this season.the government is the living representation of pharaoh both sides.
Lets Do Less With More $$$ Money, Per Portia!!
Lets Do Less With More $$$ Money, Per Portia!!
cant blame them
A government without a structured plan to combat this epidemic, as usual never have have funds to do anything only for their personal retreats.Every day they the prove how heartless they are to the citizens of this country,no one is held accountable for their failures .How the hell they expect these doctors to treat patients without the requisite protective gear,even aid workers wearing protective gear in Guinea and Liberia have contracted this virus and died as a result ,imagine working without.
A government without a structured plan to combat this epidemic, as usual never have have funds to do anything only for their personal retreats.Every day they the prove how heartless they are to the citizens of this country,no one is held accountable for their failures .How the hell they expect these doctors to treat patients without the requisite protective gear,even aid workers wearing protective gear in Guinea and Liberia have contracted this virus and died as a result ,imagine working without.
Is there a Government in Jamaica? who care for the people? since they take Jamaica from Breton the government have don nothing look at the hospital road water light employment what is the role of government I see Manley sick and he went to America for the command cool The Ebola is a disease to reduce the black race what can the black race doo there is no government we are helpless
Doctors if I were you I would just do the same. You guys have families too, you guys have dreams, hopes and vacations you want to go on. If the gov’t feel like they do not need to do anything then I do not see why you guys should look Death straight in the eye (yes not take a risk but to die because thats what the gov’t is asking you to do)
I only hope it doesn’t reach that stage it would br disastrous for jamaican
I wouldnt either, but then again they did take a hypocratic oath…if we haven’t saught some AiD from oversees for a quarantine area with hazmat suits special disposal areas and all it takes to contain and treat the patients by now, we are witnessing the most reactive and fool fool set of leaders this generation has voted into power. God help us all!
While I understand the doctors’ stance I find it very selfish. so many people have died at their hands as a result of malpractice. ..and now they are saying that they won’t expose themselves? the last time I checked they were not immune to Ebola. but it is what it is. We have grown customed to be shafted especially if you poor.
While I understand the doctors’ stance I find it very selfish. so many people have died at their hands as a result of malpractice. ..and now they are saying that they won’t expose themselves? the last time I checked they were not immune to Ebola. but it is what it is. We have grown customed to be shafted especially if you poor.
This is not something you want to wait until it gets here it may, it may not the US think it would not get to them and anything in the US has a very good chance of getting here
This is not something you want to wait until it gets here it may, it may not the US think it would not get to them and anything in the US has a very good chance of getting here
This was the same approach the health care providers in West Africa had, but where has it gotten them? In my opinion, who ever is out of the country should stay out and whoever is in stay in as long as there is no case of the virus here.
A police a the only idiots around here… SMH
PORTIA SMPSON WHAT R U GOING TO DO TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF JAMAICA FROM THIS EBOLA DESTRUCTION THE PEOPLE THEM VOTE U IN TO DO BETTER BUT INSTEAD U AND LISA HANNAH A THIEF UP THE MONEY;
I was just reading an article about Senegal, this third world poor country like our own has managed to be Ebola free. They did it not by scurrying to treat patients but my preventing its entry in their country. They tighten their border control like no other. Asking airplane staff to alert the authorities of passengers with signs of the disease. They did this by land and air. The focus has to be to contain the virus right now, this idea of “just another day at the office” cannot work. The idea of entertainers or people traveling to West Africa at free will is ridiculous. At the end of the day we remove our shoes and belts at the airport. We diligently stand in line as we get “patted down” for the random searches as we attempt to enter the USA. The war on terrorist is in full swing. Well let’s have a war on Ebola
Two years preparing for Chikunguya
Maybe they should be asking the Government and people in commerce to rectify the matter afterall if money can be raised for other things money could be raised to allow purchase of these items.No persons should be allowed travel back and forth from these countrys affected into JAMAICA full stop.
My granny had a old tale saying , if sick no care why should doctor care. Who can blame them ? I certainly don’t . They are humans , they have families and they value their lives too. Seriously ! Is Jamaica running itself ? What is the government role and duty ? How could we be so fooled to elect our own enemies as government ? Mrs pm what more will it take for you and your elected body to realise Jamaicans are humans ? That we are not dogs , hogs and just common X every 5 years ? Can leaders be so self centered , cold and heartless ? Can some of our excessive tax money be used to protect us , instead of paying for nonprofitable only yourself pleasure trips ? Dr fenton am so ashamed of you . Thought you were a true doctor , and valued people health and life . What oath did you took ? Maybe Jamaica over populated and they need to get rid of some of us.
Just collaborate with Cube who can train the doctors accordingly. They recently sent over 200 doctors to West Africa to assist in the process of dealing with Ebola.
I think we all need to find out what that young girl in Africa used successfully to protect her self while caring her relatives to health. Because if noone cares for them a whole lot more persons are likely to suffer
I can’t disagree with the right to self preservation in the most sensible manner.
The doctors are right. This one allows no mistakes.We are gonna have to spend the money up front or lose the money later or ‘all two both’ as they say in Barbados. The financial sacrifice wouldn’t be as bad a thing as if the virus were to get here. Would you now be looking forward to travelling to the islands in the sun? Life and the little freedom we currently enjoy would not be bad things to have exclusively.
We need to get the necessities or stop the flights. 21 Day Quarantine for all prospective travelers until this thing is sorted out. Imagine what the airports are gonna be like for the biggest holidays that are yet to come. Think.
That would be a clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath that all doctors swear to. See below
Hippocratic Oath (Modern version)
I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.
I will not be ashamed to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
If one police officer ever mentioned that he is not going somewhere to save a life because he does not have a bullet proof vest you won’t hear the the last of it, I am sure the those doctors took an oath to save lives under any circumstances, so do your job doc
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If one police officer ever mentioned that he is not going somewhere to save a life because he does not have a bullet proof vest you won’t hear the the last of it, I am sure the those doctors took an oath to save lives under any circumstances, so do your job doc