A before now unknown 19-year-old first-time mother, Shinnel George, was the vehicle which set the current events in motion. Ms George’s delivery had become life-threatening and it was the intervention of Dr Persaud and a team that preserved her life. The media were duly summoned to relay to a sceptical public that the Georgetown Public Hospital was still capable of saving lives in difficult situations. Coming at a time when there was a spate of maternal deaths at this and other hospitals, that news was like a breath of fresh air. Then, quite unlike many of his peers, Dr Persaud explained the procedures for the media. He even quoted a conversation he had with GPH’s Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr Madan Rambarran in which the director asked him personally to do everything possible to save Ms George’s life. The stories were duly published and then, given that the GPH and the Health Ministry had been lambasted in this column over the frequency of maternal deaths, an editorial was also published, which, to paraphrase the popular saying, ‘gave Jack his jacket.’
Of course, the information went live on the world wide web. And then the bombshell exploded. Via the same means, it was revealed that Vishwamintra Persaud MD, formerly of New York, USA, had had his licence revoked in 2008 – two years almost to the date of his ‘miracle’ at the GPH. According to the website HealthGrades, the medical doctor had been found guilty “of attempted course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree, a class E felony” on April 18, 2008 in the County Court of the State of New York, Nassau County, Mineola, New York. He was sentenced to an eight-year order of protection and ten years probation. Months later, the New York State Department of Health held a hearing following which Dr Persaud’s licence to practise medicine in NY was revoked.
Apparently, while Dr Persaud pleaded guilty to the class E felony, which is the lowest one on the statutes and carries the lightest penalty, he was not prepared to lose his licence and had argued strenuously against this step. Several of his patients had even attested to their unwavering faith in him as a doctor; all to no avail.
Dr Persaud returned to Guyana some time recently, was duly granted an institutional (probation) licence by the Medical Council of Guyana, which has since said it was none the wiser about his conviction at the time the licence was granted, and he proceeded to work at the GPH. According to Dr Rambarran, who clearly knew of Dr Persaud’s conviction and loss of licence, he has been at the GPH for about two months.
It would seem that Dr Persaud has been deemed, or has deemed himself, suitably rehabilitated over the past 22 months or so, to resume practising medicine. While his skill as a doctor is not in doubt here – as Dr Persaud had been licensed in NY for some 11 years before being struck off – the question that must be asked in retrospect is why was Dr Persaud – after only two months at the GPH – the apparent team leader in the Shinnel George case? The media were told at the briefing that there was also a gynaecologist on the team, but this person was not placed at the forefront.
One can’t help but wonder if the saving of Ms George’s life was not seized on as an opportunity to also ‘big up,’ as is said in Guyanese parlance, Dr Persaud. What is certain, however, is that neither Dr Persaud nor those who choose to champion him, reckoned with the fallout that followed the publicity stunt. It is clear too that Guyanese who are genuinely concerned about the safety and protection of children will continue to strenuously protest against Dr Persaud being retained in his current capacity at the GPH, and rightfully so. Persons in favour of giving Dr Persaud a second chance should note that his sentence – an eight-year order of protection and ten years probation – handed down in April 2008 has not been completed. His case should be reviewed in another eight years.
