The revelation by the president of the Ghana Medical Association of some health personnel involved in alcoholism, drug misuse and abuse by have been insightful. The allegations were instructive as they came from what could pass as an authoritative voice.
Dr Serebour, who was speaking at the 66th Annual General Conference of the GMA at Sokode-Lokoe, in the Volta Region, expressed concern over what he described as “dwindling professionalism” in the health sector in recent times.
According to him, there had also been cases where the conduct of some doctors had been unpleasantly discussed on radio programmes and other media platforms, including several legal suits against health facilities which outcomes were not favourable.
“Sometimes, we are let off the hook simply because the victims of our unprofessionalism choose to blame the witches for their predicament,” the president added.
Interestingly, in our view, while the revelation by the president of GMA, is mindboggling ad scary, the issue remains that no doctor, has been arrested and arraigned before court for medical negligence.
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As much as these claims remain allegations, it is embarrassing that they could be made about persons who have taken the Hippocratic Oath to save life. It is concerning that such claims were made about that give life essence.
When doctors are under the influence of substances, their decision-making abilities are compromised, putting the lives of patients at risk.
Over the years, many families have lost their loved ones, as a result of negligence of medical practitioners, but unlike advanced countries, where doctors are sued for not only compensation, but the revocation of their licences, in Ghana, we believe it is God, who gives and he is the one who takes.
This simple catchphrase is the reason why many more families, will shed tears not because their relatives died of any sickness or they could not afford, but because medical practitioners, failed to do their job diligently, because they were on drugs, and had impaired their judgement. .
As a newspaper, we are glad the president of GMA, has decided unlike his predecessors to sweep the issues under the carpet, but has made it public.
We are hopeful that, his office will take up the issue and address it.
We also call on Ghanaians to consider the option of seeking legal redress in our courts, against any doctor, nurse or medical facility, whose action or lack of it, will lead to the death of a loved one.
The bad ones, who are bringing the name of the profession into disrepute, must be fished out and made to face the full rigours of the law, to serve as deterrent to others and those yet to join the profession.
Their services are described as essential for a reason. Sanity must prevail in the profession.
