~Ottley promised a hands-on approach when dealing with unnatural deaths at MHF~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health and Labor (VSA) Omar Ottley said in response to questions posed by reporters about the unnatural deaths of mental health patients that he requested a full report from the Inspector General of Health Dr. Earl Best who is tasked with investigating the deaths.
Minister Ottley said he sent an urgent email to Dr. Best requesting the reports of deaths that took place prior to his tenure as Minister of Health as well as reports of the recent cases.
The Minister said that he could not say if an order was given by anyone to hold the patients that passed away in restrictive custody since he simply does not have that information.
Ottley said the matter has his urgent attention and as soon as the reports are sent to him he will be able to give more details. The Minister of Health explained that even prior to entering politics he heard stories and complaints from members of the community and now that he is in a position he will do everything within his power to provide answers to the families as well as the general public.
Ottley further explained that since taking office he provided answers to legal representatives of one family who requested information and did not get it. “When I took office I met some things on my desk and I took the initiative to request that information from the Inspector General and I sent it on to the legal representative even though the incidences happened before my tenure.”
It must be noted that Dr. Felix Holiday the acting director of St. Maarten Medical Center also holds the position of chairman of the board of the Mental Health Foundation. Dr. Holiday as a surgeon for a number of years and one that has been managing SMMC for a number of years have reported several calamities and incidences that occurred at the SMMC to the Inspectorate of IVSA, yet it Dr. Best says in his report that MHF does not know how to report calamities while having Dr. Felix Holiday as the chairman of the board of the institution.
SMN News also asked the Minister of Health if Inspector General Dr. Earl Best requested autopsies for the mental health patients that have died unnaturally. The Minister of Health was also asked if an autopsy was not requested then why not and who will be held responsible for the sloppy investigation that was conducted by the Inspectorate under the watch of Dr. Earl Best.
“I can also assure you that if MHF does not know how to report calamities or incidences then by the time I leave office they will know how to file these reports.”
