(Aired on February 19, 2010)
Under rug swept.
That's what the Interior Health Authority tried its best to do with a news conference today. CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny said he was confident that there has been no inordinate increase in infections because of dirty surgical equipment. He said he was confident that the sterilization equipment was working properly, meaning that even though the tools were technically dirty with blood, bone, and bits of other items, the dirt was clean. He said no human error was involved in the breakdown, so no one will lose their job. He said - first and foremost - the health authority is consumed with patient safety.
You get another idea when you talk with Dr. Richard McLeod. He's the surgeon who was forced to stop a surgery partway through just a few days ago, because the tools of his trade were dirty. Dr. McLeod says the thing that has shocked him the most is the fact that it took so long to do anything.
This issue has come forward long before the threat of media exposure forced to the health authority to really and truly deal with the problem. Certainly, before this week, someone in some position of authority said this is not the type of thing that should result in a full external review and a halt of elective surgeries.
It's that person who deserves the axe.
I am normally one to forgive pretty easily. But in this case, I have to believe someone - an actual human being - is ultimately responsible. And the public's confidence would only have been restored had that person been part of the cleansing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Bronze lancets were used in Babylonian culture to make small incisions for minor surgeries. However, even minor surgeries were not performed often because negative outcomes could lead to harsh punishments.Ancient Chinese and Japanese cultures limited the number of surgeries because there was opposition to cutting the human body.
ReplyDeletewet wipes