Cay Hill:--- A feud broke out on Wednesday afternoon between the specialists working at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and Medical Director Dr. George Scot who showed up at a meeting that was requested by the specialists with the Inspector General to discuss the report on the investigation conducted by the Inspectorate.
According to one of the specialists, Dr. Scot showed up to the meeting they called with a lawyer and claimed that since he is their boss he has a right to know what is being discussed. The specialist said the Inspector General Dr. Earl Best also went to the meeting which was held at the SMMC with his lawyer Jairo Bloem. The specialist said the Chairman of the Specialists Association Dr. Felix Holiday seems to be working against them because he withheld a three page email Dr. George Scot sent to him requesting to be part of the meeting. The specialist who preferred to remain anonymous said that it appears to them as though the Chairman of the Specialist Association gave the Medical Director permission to attend the meeting with his lawyer without consulting with them.
At some point, most of the specialists spoke out against Dr. Scot presence and he was eventually asked to leave with his lawyer because if he did not the meeting would have cancelled. The specialist who was obviously angry when he spoke to SMN News said that Dr. George Scot left the institution in a rage, while Dr. Best also requested that his lawyer Jairo Bloem to leave the meeting. At that meeting the specialists said that they believe that for the St. Maarten Medical Center to function as a hospital the Management of SMMC must change. The specialists also raised concern about the negative impact the report now has had on St. Maarten Medical Center and doctors that are working for the institution.
SMN News further learnt that Dr. George Scot was scheduled to meet with the Inspector General at 2pm on Thursday to discuss his action plan and other matters related to health care provided to patients at the SMMC. Sources within the SMMC said that at noon on Thursday Dr. Scot sent an email to the Inspectorate informing him that he will not attend the meeting and he also sent a new action plan. It should be noted that the SMMC was given five days which expires on Friday to provide an action plan but to date the Management team and Supervisory Council of SMMC have not been cooperating with the Inspectorate.
SMN News was reliably informed that the Minister of Health along with the Parliament of St. Maarten are working on taking decisive action against SMMC as early as next week.
