Roseau, Dominica – July 1, 2010……… Minister for Health, Hon. Julius Timothy, is firmly of the view that robust medical laws are needed in Dominica to deal with a wide range of issues.
The Minister made the disclosure at a Medical Ethics Workshop which took place at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau recently.
“I am totally convinced that stated ethics and professionalism are not enough to move a health care system to the next level. We need robust medical laws to deal with a wide range of issues, such as what to do with patients who refuse treatment or patients who are unable to consent to treatment. We also need improved laws to address concerns of medical negligence,” Hon. Timothy stated.
Hon. Timothy, who was appointed Minister for Health in January, 2010, also said that improved laws are needed to address concerns of medical negligence and laws are also needed to make continued medical education mandatory.
The Minister underscored the point that “we certainly need laws to address concerns of fitness to practice and disciplinary actions against transgressors”.
Hon. Timothy, who has been a legislator for two decades, gave the commitment that appropriate legislation that would seek to improve the practice of all health care professionals would be put before Parliament in the near future.
“I think this workshop is very timely. I urge you to continue educating yourselves to face the new challenges of providing health care to a very demanding public,” Hon. Timothy concluded.
The Medical Ethics Workshop was organised by the Ministry of Health and Ross University School of Medicine.
