Doctor Shafi phenomenon - Updates

Doctor Shafi phenomenon - Updates

Descriptions relating to suspicious matters about Dr. Shafi of Kurunegala hospital which incident has been the the main stream of discussion as the doctor having resorted to sterile operations is as follows.

The committee which minister of health appointed to carry out inquiries with relation to suspicious Caesarian operations approached Kurunegala hospital yesterday. But the hospital board of staff have

decided in unison not to provide evidence in that connection, the trade union had informed. As such, no inquiry took place. They had stated that they would give their consent if the President would appoint a committee and that they have no faith in his team because of the minister's partiality. The government medical officers' association has made a request a special committee be appointed under the President in order to look into the incident of Caesarian operations performed at Kurunegala basic hospital. What assistant secretary, Dr. Navin de Soysa said was that representatives of his association wish to meet the President and have a discussion  in this regard.

123 complaints have already been lodged with Kurunegala and Dambulla hospitals in connection with the doctor of Kurunegala hospital, Dr. Sahabdeen Shafi who presently is under custody. Court has issued orders that all complaints received be handed over to criminal investigation department. This order has been issued by magistrate courts of divisions of Kurunegala, Dambulla and Galewela hospitals. Since the doctor is under the custody of the criminal investigation department, this order was issued on a request made by criminal investigation department to direct all petitions against the doctor for purposes of investigation.

Hospitals and medical administrators of other units coming under the ministry of health, nutrition and indigenous medicine had been prohibited from providing information or making public announcements from yesterday (28) without sanction of the secretary of the ministry. On the other hand, acting director of health services, Mr. Lal Panapitiya has made an announcement to medical administrators that any public statements other than technical matters could be issued by medical administrators only after receiving permission from the secretary. This decision has been arrived at after making a survey on the manner in which authorities behaved in the recent Kurunegala incident.

What opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa has stated addressing a media briefing at his official residence at Wijerama Place was that if at all Sinhalese women were subjected to sterilisation at the hands of the doctor at Kurunegala basic hospital, the government should pay compensation immediately. MP Mr. S.B. Dissanayaka mentioned that a large number of cases of allegation has been targeted at a doctor and lady-doctor of Peradeniya general hospital that mothers were subjected to sterility during Ceasarian operations. He further explained that both of them are of the Muslim nationality and that they had blocked the fallopian tube from a number of points while engaged in the Ceasarian operation and thus rendered the mothers infertile. The minister finally mentioned that when the situation in Kandy was getting heated, the said doctor has got transferred to Batticaloa while the lady-doctor has gone overseas. Director of Peradeniya hospital has said that co-operation would be granted for inquiries in this connection.

Secretary of the health ministry has informed Sri Lanka medical council to carry out an independent survey where the Kurunegala incident is concerned. Mrs. Wasantha Perera, secretary of the health ministry emphasised that if the doctor concerned is found guilty, law would be exercised and that if found guilty at inquiries of having committed offences of this nature, law would be enforced on any officer whoever it is irrespective of his status.

In the meantime, an investigation is underway by the inquiries division of ministry of health, nutrition and indigenous medicine in connection with a complaint lodged by the hospital director regarding an incident where Dr. Shafi has changed the name on the bed ticket of a mother at Kurunegala basic hospital and through such a process the baby concerned has been handed over to another party.