Abbygail Hosein is contemplating taking legal action following the death of her husband Rahil Hosein while he was awaiting brain surgery at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

The Express exclusively reported on Thursday that Hosein died on October 6 whilst awaiting life saving surgery for a brain tumour because there was no cranial drill.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has said the equipment was sabotaged. An emergency drill has since been purchased.

"There are many questions to be answered, why was there no drill at the hospital when they were preparing him for surgery and giving us hope? Why didn't they tell us there was no drill for four months now? Did Rahil die because he did not get the required surgery?

These were the questions asked yesterday by Abbygail who said her husband would have been alive today if there was a more efficient health sector.

In addition, the Medical Practitioners Association of Trinidad and Tobago, (MPATT), is calling for the immediate suspension of chief executive officer of the North West Regional Health Authority, Judith Balliram-Ramoutar.

MPATT president Dr Shehenaz Hosein said yesterday via a release that Ramoutar should be suspended.

"First and foremost, MPATT and its membership wish to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of Rahil Hosein on his most unfortunate demise at Port of Spain General Hospital," stated the release.

MPATT called for adequate counselling and support to be provided to the affected family.

"The membership of MPATT has been making numerous calls concerning this unfortunate incident. They feel that, too often, doctors and nurses are held accountable for adverse outcomes in the health services, disparaged in the media and blamed by the public. They are pointing out, that in the case of Faith Williams and Crystal Ramsoomair and deaths due to dengue viral infection, doctors and nurses had to face an investigation and a tribunal. They are also pointing out that in some cases, doctors are facing action in the courts when there are allegations of blame, even when there is admitted institutional and systemic failures. This incident is yet another example of the providers (administration) not providing so the deliverers (doctors and nurses) cannot deliver," stated MPATT.

MPATT stated that the institutional and systemic failure is not headless and faceless. "There are individuals, and they know who they are, who are directly and indirectly responsible specifically for these failings. Far too frequently, the managers and administrators who are responsible escape all culpability and accountability," stated MPATT.

MPATT stated further that in support of the calls of the family, it was calling for an official and independent investigation into the unfortunate death of Hosein, "viz a viz providing the drill, the absence of which may well have accounted for the patient's demise". See Page 18