Authorities Bully, Threaten 'Talking' Doctor

By Elvis Tah

Dr. James Song, a physiologist at the Buea Provincial Hospital Annex, who recently made statements concerning a patient, has said that he has been bullied and threatened by administrative authorities.

Dr. Song, hounted

Song told The Post that the Mayor of Buea Rural Council, Charles Mbella Moki, the Director of the Hospital, Dr. John Chuwanga, and the State Counsel of Buea, confronted him for talking to the press about a frail patient.

"The Mayor came and bullied me in my office; my boss, Dr. Chuwanga also reprimanded me, saying that they are going to review my contract, and I have been interrogated twice by the State Counsel.

"I don't know where I went wrong. I was only calling for help because I saw that the patient's condition was getting worse; she actually needed help. I didn't know that calling for help might cost me my job," Song said.

Song said his boss has virtually surrendered him to the mercy of the justice department as if he committed a crime."My boss claims that I usurped hierarchy by talking to the press, which is not true because I notified him afterwards. I never knew that by crying for help, I was going to step on some toes, or I was going to hurt hierarchy.

If what I did was wrong, then I am sorry about it, but I maintain that it was for the benefit of my patient because she is a social case. I am only interested in her health," Song said.
In relation to the supposed social service in the hospital that caters for impoverished patients, Song said the service is almost empty and the process entails a lot of administrative bottlenecks.

"A critical patient can die even before going through the processes, reasons why I took the short cut," said Song."Some of us are contract doctors of the State, which somebody thinks he can just tell you to go. If it is that they want to flush me out for telling the world what is going on, I am ready to go," he added.

BUY YOUR CARDS HERE

The doctor said that he has spent most of the time he could have used to take care of other patients, in answering questions from the State Counsel. He held that the State Counsel is demanding to see his qualifications, which according to him is intruding into his privacy, because, as he puts it, is unconventional.

"Only the Minister of Health has the authority to ask for the diploma of a medical doctor," he said.Commenting on the issue, Dr. Chuwanga said Nguteh's case was a sensitive one that needed to be handled with care because it could expose the country. He said information from the hospital must pass through the hierarchy before reaching the public.

He further said the patient has been admitted just like any other patient so he sees no reason for the particularity. "Besides, the hospital has a social service which takes care of social cases and right now we are carrying out investigations to see if really the patient is a social case then can we step in," Chuwanga said.

Asked to comment on allegations that he is planning to dismiss Dr. Song, Chuwanga said he doesn't have the authority to dismiss him, but he stated that Song is a contract doctor, which means the hospital authorities can do away with him at anytime.

On his part, the Mayor of Buea Rural Council, also Chairman of the Buea Provincial Hospital Managing Committee, affirmed that he confronted Dr. Song because he was vexed.He said that Dr. Song exposed Nguteh's health situation to the public. He held that as a doctor, there are certain sensitive issues that should not be exposed.

Mbella said he was worried by the authenticity of Nguteh's story. "I am a bit worried about the truthfulness of the story, but for now, what is important is to treat the patient before getting into further details about the story. 

On what authority he has to query a medical doctor, Mbella Moki said he was using his authority as the Chairman of the Managing Committee of that hospital.On whether there are plans to sanction Song, Mbella said he is not in a position to mete out any sanction against him.   

The Patient

Simplice Nguteh was said to have been kidnapped six years ago and taken to a robbers' roost somewhere in the north. There, she claims, she was raped and tortured on a daily basis. Nguteh finally reunited with her family and was taken to the hospital under critical condition.

Comments

[Donbon]

You are a doctor man! A trained professional. You don't have to put up with that crap. You may only be trying to do your patriotic duty by using your skills to help your fellow countrymen. That is what the numskulls in authority do not know. You may become a bushfellow and make 20 times what you are presently making without having to put up with crap. You are young, talented and educated and moreover with a good heart. Think about it.

[londoner]

I think the doctor is wrong in exposing this woman's condition and experiences to the public. Doctors and lawyers are people who by the nature of their profession get sensitive and very confidential information about people. I believe they are under a duty of secrecy.

Otherwise a doctor after diagnosing me could publicly reveal that I have HIV/AIDS in a so-called attempt to protect the public

[DaDiceman]

“Hounting”? God save the Post! What language is this? Is this an English word? Guys, if you are more comfortable writing in Mungaka or Banya or Bakweri, why not write in those languages? Whatever you do, stop disgracing yourself to a worldwide audience by trying to write in English.

“Hounting”? The Post is truly a joke! Is there a sober editor reading what these “journalists” are writing? Or are all the editors in the local bar drinking themselves senseless? Good gracious me!

[TAGRO]

Visit www.thefrontiertelegraph.com for additional news

[DECKY]

MBELLA MOKI,WHAT DO YOU KNOW AS CONCERNS MEDICAL ETHICS.THE DOCTOR WAS RIGHT EXPOSING THE PATIENTS SITUATION BECAUSE IF HE LEAVES IT IN THE HANDS OF SENSELESS OFFICIALS LIKE YOU,SHE IS GOING TO DIE.
MBELLA,DO YOU THING SECURING YOUR POSITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT LADY'S HEALTH?IF YOU WERE A CONCERN OFFICIAL OF THE HOSPITAL AS YOU CALL YOUR SELF,YOU WOULD HAVE HANDLED THE SITUATION BEFORE IT GOES PUBLIC.
I AM SORRY FOR THE YOUNG DOCTOR.IT'S BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL MESS IN CAMEROON THAT IS WHY NORM SKULLS LIKE YOU ARE HAVING A SAY.STUPID MAN.

[simplice]

Call for Applications: Information and Communication Technology Training Scholarships.

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Duration: 6 months
Training Center; Muyuka/Fako Division
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-Proof of eligibilty
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Call for Applications: Information and Communication Technology Training Scholarships.


PLEHO: People of Light Environmental and Humanitarian Organisation is currently offering 10 scholarships in "Information and Communication Tecnology Training" to physically disabled Cameroonians

Duration: 6 months
Training Center; Muyuka/Fako Division
Eligibility Criteria
-must be victim of some physical ailment; of the sort that results in some inability to perform normal tasks: natural to life.
-must be leaving on less than a dollar a day; thus should preferably be from a low social strata:leaving in extreme poverty
-Proof of eligibilty
-A motivation letter
-Two recommendation letters

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-by e-mail: pleho@pleho.com, mypleho@yahoo.com , wopleho@yahoo.com .
-by post. P.O.Box 108 Muyuka, Fako Division, South West Province, Cameroon.
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Application deadline; 28/02/08 at 12 noon.
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Please kindly forward this mail to those it might help.

Pleho's Communications Secretary.

[red flag]

MBELA. INONI. FRU NDI. MUNA BEN ETC ARE ALL ENENIES OF THE 7M PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS, BY SUPPORTING THIS ILLEGAL COLONIAL OCCUPATION GOVERNMENT
OF FRENCH CAMEROUN.

[Mclims]

I really want to say all this is bullshit cause this same issue was published by the post about the rape and whatever of this lady. So did the entire population who read the post not already know the lady was sick and had undergone all the above mentioned tribulations. why then should these guys try to axe Dr Song for the re-revelation, intended for the patients betterment.

My humble contribution,

Mclims