Dear Editor,
Let me first state that Dr Mahendra Chand’s attempts to cast off the aspersions that he displayed callous indifference to the 14-year-old torture victim have failed as miserably as he did in carrying out his function as a medical professional (‘Allega-tions about “callous indifference” to tortured teen completely spurious’ SN, November 14). All he has succeeded in doing, is in demonstrating once again that as far as Guyana is concerned, square pegs in round holes is the norm in terms of who is being appointed to what position. His response to a 14-year-old patient suffering from the kind of injuries the world is observing in that image is far short of what should be expected of someone whose profession is predicated on easing pain and suffering and saving lives.
Dr Chand in moulding his defence claims that he is not part of the structure of the Guyana Police Force and thus not competent to give them orders. Agreed. However, he is part of the structure of the medical authority, and thus competent and authorized to issue orders that have to do with alleviating pain and suffering, and healing the sick. Dr Chand either needs to re-examine the ethical obligations of his profession, or get out of the business.
Dr Chand goes on to say that the bag on the head of the youth was not tied, and that he examined all the injuries on the body of the lad. But how can he say that? What kind of a medical professional called in to examine a patient, observes horrible injuries on portions of his or her body, and does not demand the right to examine the entire body of the patient in order to determine that there are no life threatening injuries elsewhere? One of the suspects who was tortured received injuries to the head. Of course Dr Chand can rightly claim that he did not know this at the time. But neither did he know whether the boy was suffering from injuries above the shoulders. How could he adequately determine whether this lad needed emergency medical life-saving attention without observing and examining that portion of his body above the shoulder? Surely he is jesting.
Dr Chand, as he stated, is not part of the command structure of the Guyana Police Force, and thus his actions had to follow a pattern in keeping with his professional obligations. He observed what were hideous injuries to the mid and lower torso of a patient. Remember, Dr Chand is not a policeman, so this lad is not a suspect, he is a patient. There is a bag on the head of the lad. In keeping with his professional obligations he should have demanded that the bag be removed from the head of the boy so that he could examine his entire body. If the police refused to comply, Dr Chand’s duty as a medical professional was to take their names and ranks as a process of reporting their conduct to higher authorities. Further, rather than recommending that the lad be taken to the hospital, Dr Chand should have issued a medical order to that effect, and remain with the patient until he was handed over to competent medical authorities for emergency medical attention. That is what would have happened in most civilized countries.
For Dr Chand’s information, if that examination had occurred in the US along the lines it did, he might have been prosecuted. US law mandates that medical, educational and other social services professionals report all incidents that suggest child abuse. What that lad experienced was not only torture, it amounted to child abuse. I know that many take offence when I write that we have been dumbed down. But what other condition can produce the never ending flow of fatuous and insipid explanations and excuses that issue forth from people in positions of responsibility when their excesses or failures come under public scrutiny. Torture is roughing up. Guyanese are more interested in the contents of their Christmas barrels than they are in torture.
Police Standing Orders authorize them to use a measure of force to get confessions. Again, George Orwell had to have looked into the future, got a glimpse of Guyana circa 1992-2009, and immediately sat down and began scribbling away at what would become a dystopian presentation of hypocrisy, deceit and connivance as a strategy to obtain and maintain a hold on power. Sadly that fictional allegory titled Animal Farm that many of us were given as an assignment for literature seems to have become a depiction of our reality in the land we call our home.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Williams
I am with you 1oo% Robin could not of said it better
I predict a promotion for Dr Chand, like commissioner Merai
Clearly, Dr. Mahendra Persaud continues to ‘nail his coffin’. He should keep his mouth shut and stop writing letters to the editor. With each piece of defence he offers in defence of his ‘callous indifference’ to the torture of a 14 year child by the two Indian members of the GPF, Dr. Mahendra Persaud continues to attach his face to the image of a child crying out for help but was callously disregarded by a medical professional. I would like to hear him under cross-examination in a court of law. But this is of a bigger issue: the total disregard of civil behaviour and mediocrity that have replaced professionalism and good decorum by the many bufoons who ‘run’ public life in Guyana these days.
Editor what more crude attempts at trying to ge political anti-government mileage, in this case by trying to smear the good reputation of a doctor, are you going to allow ?
Where does Mr. Williams think your readers are living –in a place where people cn’t read and write ? Like wha he appears to be accustomed to ?
Milking the bun boy issue will get these people nowhere –it will only turn people who may have thought about joining the opppsoition off. Where iS Mr. Williams’ stance on the MORE IMPORTANT terrorist rampage ? Folks, its called “bun boy politics” (oh well, the “lost boy” one put in background fuh now).
Reddy…yuh remembah de song “There’s a kind of hush”?
Just ‘Hush’
You couldn’t even hold a candle up to Robin Williams when it comes to writing. When you compare the mindless bilge you spurt here to the clear thoughtful analyses usually provided by Mr. Williams it’s like comparing a turkey to an eagle. His rethoric soars way above your imbecilic thought process.
Plus, SN readers don’t need anybody like you trying to represent them. You are an embarrasment enough being on the blog muchless trying to represent — well at least most of us.
C’mon Reddy ! The doctor thought he was examining one of ‘those people’, like the ‘usual suspects’. He could not be bothered by the condition of the youth as it might have been standard operating procedure to him. I guess he his still going about his duties for the GPF.
Norman
harboured doubts that miraculous and incredible act of driving INTO a police station and shooting it up (then getting clean away) was anything other than a Reichstag Fire, your insistence that the Reichstag “terrorist rampage” which is veiled in innuendo is “MORE IMPORTANT” than the PROVEN torture of minors by agents of the state seals the deal.
Norman, that should have been “anyone who” harboured doubts…
Dear Reddy,
You are nothing if not predictable- up bright and early, scouring the blogs for any un-favourable postings on your masters’ latest outrages, attacking said notices with vigour……goooood boy, you deserve a treat for that one.
Nawman like your government you have displayed yet again how much you care for the people of Guyana who voted you into office (regrettably).
You also show how you chaps have gotten to big for your pants and you are the most insensitive people in govt. Thanks for putting this on international display for us.
I was totally vext with Barrat fuh saving Quamher.
But if is people like you he gat fah depend on to
defend him and write his speeches, then he dont have
a choice.
Must do like evil and disappear when deh fyah hot.
Reddy,
After all the Dr failed to do you can still refer to “The good reputation” of the Dr?
As the Dr. for the GPF he should know that every person he examines on behalf of the GPF is potentially going to end up in court and he may be called as a witness in the trial. Not having uncovered the boy’s head, what was he going to tell the court? He examined “somebody”?
If that boy was your son would you have wanted this matter “swept under the carpet” as you are wishing and wanting to do?
Mr Reddy.
When you have nothing constructive to add, why do so?
…what i’m goin to say here is not to be misconstrued to mean that i am condoning the harsh treatment of the youth ,, and further i have not seen the pics of the child and his injuries ,, nor have i read anything abt it ,, but this long length of babble abt the doctors obligations to any person who is injured an suffering is to first use wan ting dem call “staetahscope” — ahyuh gat fuh bare wid me caz me nah bin a skule like dis bai rabin william ,, but dis meh knoe ,, me nah stupid like he ! — an by de use of dis instrument ,, dem wah is dactah can immediately tell de nature of shock any person who is injured ,, and whether the person needs immediate medical care ! de dactak is far more intelligent dan dis william bai ,, caz ‘e done knoe seh wah mek de police put de bag ova de chile head ,, an ‘e done knoe seh to dat de police dealin wid de chile testicles ,, which is why he [de dactah] nah baddah fuh chek de chile head aftah de use ah de staetahscope !
Absolutely right michael tannassee.
I have heard so many comments about the bag over the youth’s head, but failed to realize that the Doctor already knew why he was called to the scene. The doctor did not need to see anything else but the burns. What would examining the head reveal? He was probably given specific orders by the police who did the interrogation.
This doctor knew exactly what he was dealing with.
Whew, at least the doctor has 2 persons in the form of MT and ZR to agree with his actions. Ah well, it takes all kinds to make up this world.
Michael & Zee
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to make utterences that will relieve all doubt.
Same goes for you chucky. Take you tired old saying and go back to school. Think independently.
I never condone what the Doctor did. I said he knew why he was called to the scene and what he was there for. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME he had done this and that is why the bag over the patient’s head did not phase him.
Reading requires comprehension and not merely looking at the words.
Haha,
D Dacta was familia wid d modus investigatus…no need fe check de head.
Kenneth Reddy is just trying to earn his keep so he can stay in good old Bim and enjoy the good life as he confessed a few days ago in Bim.
MR Thompson is watching you Reddy LOL dead line looming
Isn’t clear enough that Reddy has hit his head on the rock while in HIGH society or may be doing some UNDER-COVER work
Mr Williams is so right.Even the Dogs and Cats have better treatment at the animal clinic in Orange walk.You look into the faces ,and eyes of these animals and you see their pain.What about this poor boy with his genitals all burnt.
Have you got children Mr Doctor? You said you worked beyond the call of duty when you went to examine him, What about all those other Doctors who are slaving at the Accident and emergency unit?What about the Nurses too,are they not working beyond the call of duty too?
Lame excuses,you should be removed from the register!
That the PPP way…. I can tell a bout some people who was tortured by this same PPP and would not return to Guyana just because the engage with WPA.
Kenneth u speak the truth.
Thee is nothing left to squeeze out of this story. Let it go. ALL bloggers agree that the doctor is wrong.
Stop beating this dead horse!!!
Did Robin Williams not read the comments on the doctor’s letter on SN’s electronic edition?
Typical of you to say dead horse. TORTURE is not something to be swept under the rug. The DR should be held accountable for his complacency in not bringing this matter to light. The PPP apologists like yourself wants this matter to be snuffed out. However, the media have an obligation to keep this alive, and others have to push for UN and other world bodies to bring sanctions against this regime.
csingh – what should be DONE about the doctor’s negligence, callous indifference and facilitation of torture?
In most 3 rd world countries he would have been relieved of duties a long time ago
Reddy keep sucking up u doing a good job
This doctor is an embarassment to his nobel profession. Sky. I am with you again.