The two GMOA doctors responsible for the infant death caused by the strike have been suspended.

There is no greater tragedy than a baby, who grew safely for nine months in a mother's womb, departing from life at the moment of seeing the light of this world.

Health authorities have taken steps to suspend a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist and a senior resident medical officer, who are said to be responsible for the death of an infant who faced such an unfortunate fate at the Trincomalee District General Hospital on April 09th, during a strike by government doctors.

On that day, around 8:45 AM, while a mother was preparing for childbirth in the hospital's labor room, the baby ingested meconium and was in a critical condition. At that moment, the doctor in charge of the ward made six phone calls to the relevant specialist obstetrician and gynecologist and the senior resident medical officer, strongly informing them of the severity of the situation. However, neither of the two doctors came to the labor room to save the life of that helpless infant who was fighting for his last breath.

Preliminary investigations conducted by health authorities have revealed that while this horrific tragedy was unfolding at the government hospital, both doctors were performing a C-section on another mother at a nearby private hospital. In addition to violating the supreme ethics of the medical profession and neglecting their duty, their attempt to later make false entries in the government hospital's duty logbook to show that they were on duty has also been confirmed during the investigations. The two individuals who have been suspended due to such serious misconduct are Specialist Doctor O.V.G.L. Weerasena, who serves as the President of the Government Medical Officers' Association at Trincomalee General Hospital, and Senior Resident Medical Officer S.A.N.D. Siyambalapitiya.

During the period of suspension, these doctors are prohibited from traveling abroad, and it has also been ordered that if they change their residence, they must inform the authorities. In the face of the actions of these officials who caused the death of innocent lives for personal gain, a serious question has now arisen in society regarding the true nature and ethics of trade union struggles.

If helpless lives are sacrificed for personal gain by doctors, who are trusted like gods to cure illnesses, what other refuge do poor patients fighting between life and death have?