AMS calls for action over misconduct by specialist at Karapitiya Hospital

2 November 2024 01:29 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 15 Bookmark

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The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has stepped in regarding allegations of abusive conduct by a specialist at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle, urging immediate disciplinary action.

In a letter to Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardene, the AMS requested an impartial investigation into claims by two of its members, Dr. Jayamini Horathugoda and Dr. Harshani Dharmawardena, who reported experiencing verbal abuse by the doctor while on duty.

The AMS emphasised its strong stance against abusive language and threats in the workplace, calling on the Ministry of Health to address the matter swiftly to ensure a safe and professional work environment.

Meanwhile, the hospital’s trade union has announced a temporary suspension of its strike until Monday (04) as the Health Ministry has vowed action against the specialist in question.

Comments - 15

Ram P Saturday, 02 November 2024 02:04 PM

We are all watching if the complaint will be investigated. AMS made the complaint as the victims were their members. There are instances when the victims are patients and/or Nursing staff. No action. That is how the system worked. Let us see if things have changed

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Retired Sri Lankan nurse WORKED in the UK Saturday, 02 November 2024 03:22 PM

Well, this specialist who threatened his colleagues needs training in : 1) Communication skills, 2) Anger Management 3) Basic mannerisms. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka Health staff do not have mandatory training in various aspects of running and working in the health department. Sri Lankan health services should follow the discipline exhibited in the UK NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES.

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Rip Winkle Saturday, 02 November 2024 04:52 PM

These buggers educate themselves on taxpayers money and once they receive their doctorate they lose their heads.

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Saman Sunday, 03 November 2024 05:36 PM

We need to step away form this sort of comments. Firstly, there are so many citizens who were given free education and still become a burden to the nation and some times even become bad people. Doctors have worked hard to make use of the education they were offered. However, it is obvious as the retired nurse commented, this education failed to provide sufficient learning in communication skills, mutual respect and working as a team, among other things. Systemic failures in the health system is also a significant factor. Making continuous professional developmed (CPD) education mandatiory for renewal of Medical Council registration and offering good quality education material is likely to help improve the situation.

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P Kunchithapathan Saturday, 02 November 2024 05:32 PM

'Physicians heal thyself' is an old adage comes to our mind whenever we come across such incidents of such nature. Hope the ministry will take appropriate action to put the house in order.

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wickrama Wijayasiri Saturday, 02 November 2024 07:43 PM

While being knowledgeable, the arrogance of the Sri Lankan doctors in general is known island wide. They think that they are god. Their mistake and errors go 'unnoticed' with the patient taking the lumps. Doctors in SL do not take the time to explain, they only dictate. You are not allowed even to ask questions or for explanation from them, even if you are a paying patient. In the West, the fear of getting sued for malpractice keeps them to be more caring and affable. Legislation should be introduced for similar in SL. Doctors do not keep detailed consultation notes in SL either. They are too busy at the cash register, for writing or dictating notes. Continuing education to keep their registration is also a must.

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Civilised citizen Saturday, 02 November 2024 11:16 PM

This is an extension of the horrendous practices obtaining in our country where family centric governance with all bleeding the people was in existence for a long time. We have ended that era hopefully never to return so new systems should be put in place alround. Doctors you may recall thought they were of a different breed where they demanded facilities not available to other professions. This specialist must be made to apologise in this instance and watched.

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sarath Saturday, 02 November 2024 11:53 PM

I have worked for Ministry of Health Sri Lanka for 25 years, A common problem is lack of good communication skills, these are so important and high priority given in Western Worlds. It is compulsory to attend these courses regularly. We should have our own courses on communication skills possibly by PGIM. Our Doctors have best skills ,but mistakes by Doctors must be investigated impartailly.

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Rajan V Pillai Sunday, 03 November 2024 01:53 AM

Our Doctors are over worked. Those who remain in Sri Lanka have too many patients to handlle. We Educate Doctors totally on tax payers funds and send them to work in Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom and we do not receive foreign Exchange , since they settle and become citizens of those countries.

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Dr Jayanthi K Sunday, 03 November 2024 12:53 AM

Some of these female doctors educated in Bangladesh think they are Oxford scholars. Two sides to every story.

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Terrence K Sunday, 03 November 2024 12:59 PM

In anything there are two sides of the story. To be a Specialist in the medical field one needs to be qualified and have number of years of experience. Most of our Specialists of the Old school get their qualifications from UK etc. with on the job training in National Hospital Services in UK. These recently qualified doctors especially female doctors think no end of themselves with degrees from some Asian countries and lack the exposure to perform their work. Because they are females all Unions display a soft corner for the fairer sex. These newly qualified doctors cannot cope with most of the requirements of doctors and invariably there is no time to mollycoddle these Doctors. In the UK no one can use the title Dr unlesss they get their MD. So don't get carried away with lullaby rhymes of these female doctors.!!!!!!!

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Dilshan Perera Sunday, 03 November 2024 02:53 PM

Long time coming for this notorious consultant from Galle! Best option for all serious medical professionals is to update their skills, gain qualifications while in Sri Lanka and permanently migrate and leave to a better country.. there are many, many better opportunities now!

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pdrskumara Sunday, 03 November 2024 07:49 PM

This doctor now in the centre of controversy was a very competent and empathetic surgeon and a stickler for discipline. He did have a tendency to take it to an extreme at times. May be the stress got the better of him or some other remediable condition supervened. In that case what he needs is not punishment but help from all his colleagues. He is known to have a very grateful clientele of patients. If sanity prevails on all fronts some workable solution to this could be found so that the ultimate beneficiary would be the patients. Of course it is easy for me to comment when I am un-connected with the ground reality.

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Bokka Monday, 04 November 2024 12:22 AM

This doctor may be a DP ( kataya ) sort, of then Royal College. We feared him, but respect immensely to date. These tik toky young doctors may have expected their seniors to mollicoddle them.

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navratne willamune Monday, 04 November 2024 09:42 AM

some thing similar happened last year or the year before, Is it the same Dr involved in the present problem if it is the same person strict disiplinary action should be taken,

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