By LR LiburdThe St. Kitts-Nevis Observer
After a brief lull, the controversial Regenerative Medicine Therapy recently conducted at the JNF General Hospital, which is believed in some quarters to have involved the use of stem cells, has resurfaced as the St. Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association (SKNMDA) throws its support behind Dr. Patrick Martin.
In a statement signed by the SKNMDA’s President Dr. Daveen Wilkin, the Association is seemingly reminding the Team Unity Government that standards must be rigorously set, maintained and monitored.
As described by the Association, its involvement arose from “the debate and public’s concern with regards to the stem cell/regenerative medicine therapy recently carried out at the Joseph N. France General Hospital”.
The Association noted its support for the practice of evidenced-based medicine and also that of research involving human subjects that is legally established and ethically monitored by accepted standards, such as those of the World Health Organisation’s Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related Research with Human Participants.
“We recognised the St. Kitts and Nevis Medical Board and any ethical board that may be convened under governing legislation, as our guardians in such issues. We acknowledge and support the role of the CMO, in ensuring that these standards be upheld,” the statement reads.
Following the announcement of his 17-month pre-retirement leave as the Federation’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Patrick Martin told The Observer that prior to receiving his letter to proceed on leave, he had gotten wind of an illegal operation being performed at the hospital.
“I got information that there was a stem cell operation taking place at the private ward in JNF Hospital and that patients were already there. So at 9 o’clock Monday, June 13, I called the Medical Chief-of-Staff and I called the Matron. I asked the Medical Chief-of-Staff if he is aware that a stem cell operation taking place, and his response to me was, ‘I thought you knew.’ And my response was, ‘There was no medical or legal clearance for this.’ So that was said to the Medical Chief-of-Staff and the Matron who are the two top functionaries at the hospital at this time. The hospital does not have a Director, so the Medical Chief-of-Staff would be number one and the Matron is number two.”
Dr. Martin stated that following his call to the Medical Chief-of Staff and the Matron, he decided to visit the hospital.
“At 11 o’clock I visited the private ward, as I am required to do under the institution’s regulations which say that the CMO shall visit the institution to ensure that its standards are up to date and upheld, and I found that there was some activity going on in the private ward, which was referred to me as stem cells activity.
“I saw Dr. Archibald and I told him that thing has no medical or legal clearance and that he should cease and desist. And then I saw the Brazilian doctor and Dr. Archibald introduced her to me. She had a stethoscope around her neck and she had on gloves. After removing the gloves we shook hands and I told her that she is not registered and licenced to practice in this Federation and that she should cease, desist and leave the premises.
“It appeared as though the cease and desist and leave the premises order that I gave the Brazilian doctor put the stem cell/regenerative medicine operation at the private ward in jeopardy and that made persons unhappy.”
He also stated that as the CMO and Chair of the Medical Board, which registers and licences medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists et al, he was duty bound to ensure that the laws of the Federation were upheld.
However, on Thursday night (Jun. 23), Senator Wendy Phipps, Minister of State with Responsibility for Health, issued a statement refuting Dr. Martin’s allegations.
“The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has chosen to clarify the position relative to the Regenerative Medicine project temporarily housed at the Joseph N. France General Hospital, and the departure of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Patrick Martin.
“As Minister of State with Responsibility for Health, I wish to state categorically that neither the Ministry of Health nor the JNF General Hospital is engaged in any stem cell project. Government has given approval to a research project involving the use of plasma-based infusion therapies to a limited number of overseas patients.”
The retiring CMO rubbished the Junior Minister’s denial, noting that he is standing by his pronouncements on the stem cell issue and offered a medical definition of regenerative medicine.
“Regenerative medicine is a field of medicine having to do with repair of damaged or injured cells and tissues. The use of stem cells is a component of regenerative medicine.”
He claimed that stem cells were brought into the Federation to treat patients.
“Essentially, plasma from the umbilical cord was brought into the country to be infused in patients at the private ward in the JNF Hospital. This human umbilical cord plasma, apparently, has been shown in studies to be able to stimulate your own stem cells.”
Also in her statement, Senator Phipps disputed what Dr. Martin claimed, stating “A Brazilian expert, Dr Silvia Lagrotta, who is attached to the project DOES NOT AND HAS NOT EVER administered any therapies to ANY patients in St. Kitts and Nevis. Her presence thus far has been strictly limited to observing the process as a representative of the investor group’s Brazilian partner.”
In support of Dr. Martin, the SKNMDA said it believes that the Medical Board should be allowed to function in its legally prescribed roles, including the registration of health practitioners and monitoring their competence to practice as is laid out in the Medical Act without interference from political or other entities.
“Every member of the SKNMDA is legally registered with the Medical Board to practise their craft within the Federation, and hence the Association supports the legal position that no individual should be allowed to partake in any medical or dental activity, whether hands-on or supervisory, without being duly registered as is laid out in the Medical Act.”
The Medical Association is adamant that all physicians working in any health institution within the Federation should be informed when any new policies, practices or therapies are being implemented that would affect their functioning and delivery of healthcare.
Members of the Opposition have been calling for Senator Phipps’ resignation, noting that there was no legislation for the project and that Dr. Archibald and the local nurses who were involved in the “so called” Regenerative Medicine Therapy were not trained in that field.
From this backdrop, the SKNMDA emphasised that “any proposed study must not expose physicians to increased liability because of poor design and lack of clear procedural details in its design”.
