The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has accused Police Surgeon Mahendra Chand of ignoring the abuse of a teen who was tortured while in custody and yesterday called for him to be relieved of duties in the police force and the prison service.
Chand, who treated the teen while he was in custody at the Leonora Police Station, dismissed the GHRA’s charges as “opinions” and questioned its authority to judge him. “If they want to cast aspersions on me, that is their business,” he told Stabroek News, adding that a complaint could be lodged with the Guyana Medical Council. “I am working for humanity everyday. Who is the GHRA to judge me?” he declared.
Saying that Chand’s failure to act constituted a dereliction of duty and could be considered passive complicity with torture, the GHRA called on the Medical Council to investigate whether his “gross breach of medical ethics” and “gross incompetence” displayed in the incident warrant serious disciplinary action.
The teen, a suspect in the murder of former Region Three Vice-Chairman Ramenauth Bisram, remains under police watch at the Georgetown Public Hospital while concerns continue to be raised about the method of interrogation the police used.
In an earlier interview with Kaieteur News, the GHRA said, Chand reported that that the teen was brought from the lock-ups with his head concealed. Because of this, he was quoted as saying, he thought that he was just a prisoner in a domestic matter who was brought in with injuries and that the police were trying to conceal his identity.
Chand in the article also denied knowing who he was treating and said too that he did not know that the police had anything to do with the prisoner’s injuries. Chand, according to the GHRA, also said he was not aware that he was treating a juvenile and that only after he saw the shocking news item in the Kaieteur News did he realise he had treated a torture victim.
The interview, the GHRA said in a statement yesterday, revealed a callous, indifference beyond belief. “The manner in which he [Mahendra Chand] conducted himself should lead to his immediately being relieved of his post in the Guyana Police Force … and the Guyana Prison Service,” it said.
Further, the human rights body stated that its independent investigations confirmed that during the examination the juvenile’s head was covered by a cloth bag with a string to tighten the neck. It said too that Chand never asked the juvenile his name, age or what had caused the burns and scars and neither did he speak to him at all. It noted that the only words the victim overheard the doctor saying was “This person need to go to hospital” and it added that there was no response from the police but an ointment was later handed to the teen who was advised to rub it on himself since the doctor had left it.
In this regard, the GHRA said the interview suggested that it is Chand’s normal practice to remain as ignorant as possible of what he is involved with. “Unfortunately silence in this case really does suggest consent,” it added, saying it puts him “morally” in the dock with other members of the force who bear varying degrees of responsibility for what occurred in Leonora police station or its “cover-up”.
“Any claim that Dr Chand was innocently rather than determinedly ignorant of what he was involved with is challenged by his apparent failure to ask even the most basic questions,” it emphasised, adding that everything about the interview smacks of a business-as-usual approach in which Chand hears no evil, sees no evil and says nothing. “When the official representative to the police force is not outraged by such treatment why should police ranks act differently?” it further questioned.
But Chand yesterday questioned the GHRA’s right to judge him. He stated that he was called by the police while he was off duty. “I made the sacrifice to go and see the patient,” he explained, adding it was about 6 pm when he was contacted. Questioned as to why he did not take the patient’s details, he said that he does not question the police work, further stating that there was no stationery or anything around where he could have recorded the information. “I am restricted to my work. A patient was produced to me and I did what I could have done in the situation,” he declared.
He declined to comment further.
Meanwhile, the GHRA pointed to Principle #2 of the Medical Principles applicable to persons in detention approved by the UN General Assembly, which states that it is a gross contravention of medical ethics, as well as offence under applicable international instruments for health personnel, particularly physicians to engage actively or passively in acts which constitute participation in, complicity in, incitement to or attempts to commit torture or other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Sacrifice
The GHRA also reiterated its call for appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against all officers to the highest levels of the police force who participated in or attempted to cover–up, downplay or minimize the brutality of the minor. It felt too that an internal enquiry ordered by the president is “another example of the government protecting those who torture.” It questioned how subordinates could objectively investigate the action of the commissioner of police, which it said is a legitimate part of the enquiry, as well as recommend appropriate disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) in a statement yesterday denounced the treatment of the boy while adding it is depending on government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police hierarchy along with independent panels of investigation to unearth the truth of the torture claims and to deal with the perpetrators.
FITUG pointed to other obvious implications of torture or alleged brutality by the police to obtain confessions, noting that they would be thrown out of the courts. “Even guilty parties who plead torture and phony confessions will walk from courts quite free,” it said, “Also, the entire force will bear the stain of credibility along with hostility from a society whose cooperation it needs.”
FITUG also condemned what it dubbed the “terroristic activities” of an identified gang earlier in the week which resulted in fires set at the High Court, the Richard Ishmael Secondary School and the shooting up of the Brickdam Police station and the East Ruimveldt Outpost. “When murder and mayhem is visited upon the poor working class persons on our highway in our police station and workplaces such as schools and law courts, who are the ultimate victims?” it queried.
Got to watch dat visa …
Somebody ain’t going public on the ingnoramuses and publicity seekers in the GHRA ? If they want support from the public for their “causes”, they got to start thinking. One of dem is even a lawyer and the apparently good reputation of a doctor is being dragged in the mud by this irresponsible loud mouth lot.
The bun boy thing needs adressing and rogue police are being investigated. But what are the handful of these middle class individuals in the Association who want to jump on any media driven bandwagon know about peoples’ concerns ? Don’t they know the people are concerned about the more important recent terrorists/criminal attacks on businesses and peoples’ state property and the murder of a young man ? Don’t these Association ignoramuses got any priorities ?
Oh, me is forgot…the bun boy is numero uno issue and the terrorist/criminal actions are a diversion and distraction…Oh me is so sorry, I forgot….
Never Reddy, you’re such a diligent employee to get up early every day to make sure you spew pro PPP/Jadeo government drivel and today is no exception. The GHRA is dead on for taking to task the police “doctor.” The man by his own words in the immediate aftermath of the exposure of the police’s torture of the child did not represent himself well when he said he did not look at the person’s face, only the wound. He was derelict in duties by failing to see the patient’s face and or interview the patient or perform a complete examination of the person before him.
Now, I already said too much because you seem to be able to digest only small morsels at a time. But it is indeed logical to ask if the doctor was complicit in the police’s behavior by his actions. It is not unreasonable to ask has he done this before. The doctor continues to further diminish his stature by the statements attributed to him in today’s article… “I made the sacrifice to go and see the patient”; dismissed the GHRA’s charges as “opinions” and questioned its authority to judge him.
Additionally like clockwork and just like the callous government you shill for, here come the PPP/Jagdeo talking points to distract the enfeebled electorate by using the word terrorist to describe the curious fires at the Court of Appeals and the Richard Ishmael School. You forgot to work in “intellectual authors” today.
Maybe you could do us a favor and tell us who were the intellectual authors of channa bombs, sugar cane field fires and arson when Burnham was in power; it looks a lot like what’s happening today.
Reddy:
Sorry Reddy, the Kyattman begs to differ!
‘They are not want support from the public for their “causes”, they got to start thinking. One of dem is even a lawyer and the apparently good reputation of a doctor is being dragged in the mud by this irresponsible loud mouth lot’.
This lot is part of the larger lot. Their objective is very clear. They want to vilify the Security forces. They are trying to muzzle their authority to uphold the law effectively. By limiting their tools, the insurgents, will have the pluck to brazenly attack anyone. If caught who cares, they will enjoy detention.
The UN is a toothless Organisation which seems unto a lion who has lost its roar. How many Resolutions were passed on places like Kashmir and countries like Palestine.
Can Guyana afford to hold so many would be ‘insurgents and delinquents’ eventually? I doubt it!
It is a sinister plot to muzzle Guyana’s Finest!
‘Nip it in the bud’! Bud.
Ha ha ha. Nice one!
have a great day!
this is not nothing new. i had a friend that was shot by a policeman some years ago at a party over a woman. when we rushed him to the hospital, the nurses and doctors were quick to respond but when we told them what happened, they all withdrew and was skeptical like if the man was some criminal shot by the police. imagine what the criminal has to go through; like if he aint human. everything worked out well in the end because a friend who was a government bureaucrat intervened. society has it that you stigmatise without getting the facts.
Don’t mention “human rights” to Reddy, it’s like saying “freedom” to a communist.
All of them is one family
The doctor doth protest too much.
Quote: “But Chand yesterday questioned the GHRA’s right to judge him” They have every right to ask questions especially if he (Chand) is found wanting in his duties as a physician. He took an oath to serve and heal to the very best of his abilities as a doctor.
Give the doctor a break , he knows that the police is there to “serve and protect” the citizens and visitor to Guyana . The good doctor probably saw similar injuries before on people in police custody . With the inept ppp Govt in power , the doctor don’t want to be victimised .
Sanctions should be brought against this medical doctor for not reporting the condition in which he saw the TORTURED child.
By virtue of his non-action, harm has been visited upon the child and such is in direct contradiction to the Hippocratic Oath he swore to uphold when he became a physician.
I hereby instruct and direct the child’s lawyer who as his advocate is obligated and compelled to act on his whole interest; to forthwith report the medical professional to the board of physicians and where such body is absent, said report be directed to the Minister of Health for purposes of bringing disciplinary charges.
Bis, Hippocratic oath is non existent from Communist Cuba’s first class NURSING SCHOOL.
This sounds like gross misconduct and should be dealt with appropriately
Agreed.
But dat is Guyana!
You think anyone in authority cares?
They don’t !
Just emphasizes how much more progress is yet to come in the
Guyanese society.
If the doc had acted, he might have found himself ‘ostracized’.
And in that small society, it is disastrous to be ostracized.
But he did not act, and in that case he would not be shunned,
so he is quite ’safe’
For me he should be charged with neglect of duty and right
away.
The question is : ” Who would dare institute such a charge?”
Dat sir is Guyana!
The good doctor said he made a sacrifice so he didn’t had to follow protocol.I wonder if he is summon to see a prisoner at 8pm if he would have to make sacrifice too.Mr.Chand what is your job.
How can he make a sacrrifice when he is being paid? Don’t the doctors swear to care for all with comapssion?
,One of the first things a docter asks a person before treating a wound is, ‘How did this happen to you?’ This docter surely has questions to answer.
This reeks of business as usual.A doctor who dosen,t know the patient,s name that he is treating.It is basic medical practice to get a patient,s history which includes the identity before commencing exam and treatment.The excuses gets more assinine especially in light of the fact that it includes a police matter. Certainly detailed records must be kept in light of the fact that this is a police matter which will end up in court and may be admitted as evidence in the case or in a pending lawsuit.This doctor should be cited for gross incompetence.
That reminds me of the student who typed a letter cussing up the HM, and when she was caught she said she was given it to type by someone else, but she didn’t read it!
Getting the patient’s name, age, medical history, etc. are all embodied in the assessment phase of the process before an accurate diagnosis and subsequent intervention can be performed. Even in an emergency situation doctors are trained to make quick assessments while rendering assistance to save lives.
What about pain medication? Didn’t the goodly Dr. not see the need to administer same given the extent of the damage? Why weren’t the comfort and safety of the patient not considered by the Dr.? Aren’t these standard consideration adumbrated by the set standards governing his professional practice? Leaving a tube of some ointment for self administration certainly does not reflect this. This doctor is culpable and just as inhuman as the perpetrators of the torture, and like them, should be in deep trouble in any democratic society; but this is Guyana; the land of the lawless.
A Dispenser would have done better than this doctor.Excuses,excuses-the suspect’s face was covered so he did not know if the suspect was an adult or juvenile-there was no stationary to make records,- did not speak to the suspect.Wake up Doctor, who do you think will believe your excuses.
A nurse practitioner or even my mom home attendant.
Well said Flash ! But notice the arrogance in his speech. It is like, ‘I know who I am. Who are they to question me. This is our country, so , be circumspect. ‘
The time has come to sent this poor child overseas for further treatment. He now needs both physical and mental healing.
DO IT NOW.
Further this incident should never allowed to be swept under the carpet.
Help from the British would have avoided this type of police brutality.
I was shocked when I read the good doctor never asked the boy, who he be. How can he say he works for humanity everyday when he did not act humanly towards his patient? The boy’s head in a bag, did he not want to see if the eyes were dug out and teeth were knocked in or nose was ripped off? Did he not even want to ask the boy what caused his injuries? Dear God, the whole lot of them (police and doctor) need to feel the heat of the law.
The doctor confirms himself as even more callous and complicit by opening his mouth.
Couldn’t agree with you more. You hit the nail right on the head.