Public Service Commission clears Labour MP Anthony Zammit
The malicious attacks by the media on Labour MP Anthony Zammit have disintegrated as the Public Service Commission found him not guilty of accusations that had been made against him by a nurse who alleged abusive behaviour towards her.
The PL said the disciplinary board investigated two charges against Mr Zammit and listened to evidence, including from the nurse who made the allegations.
It said that none of the other seven witnesses who appeared before the board, and who were all present in the operating theatre during the operation when this was supposed to have taken place, saw Mr Zammit kicking or pushing a bucket at this person, as she had alleged.
Mr Zammit told the board that he had complained that nurses should be taught operating theatre procedures before they were assigned to assist in operations.
The board concluded that this remark had been addressed to the training system nurses were being given and not at individuals.
Moreover, none of those who were present for the operation, except for the person who complained, described Mr Zammit’s behaviour as arrogant or abusive.
The board declared Mr Zammit not guilty, the PL said, confirming his credibility, honesty and professional integrity.
52 Comments
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Maria Camilleri
Sep 5th 2010, 13:34
Integrity and truthfulness have won. Well Done Profs. You have my admiration. I am a patient of yours and I know how much you care. And to the other person who accused you I say to her, " A lie has speed but truth has endurance".
R Axisa
Sep 5th 2010, 09:58
It's interesting to know who was the person to make such malicious allegations! Issa li z-zejt tela' f'wicc l-ilma mhux sew li min tefa' t-tajn jibqa' jinheba! Is-sewwa jirbah zgur!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 5th 2010, 09:12
The insinuations were headline news on Net TV for days on end but the proclamation of innocence was totally ignored. Is that Legal?
Peter Korsten
Sep 6th 2010, 01:20
Of course it is legal. You can't Net TV to be unbiased, and you can't force anybody to report a news item that doesn't fit in the propaganda.
Whether it's MORAL, that's another question, of course.
Joseph Attard
Sep 5th 2010, 01:19
I had no doubts at all that Mr Zammit is a gentleman of integrity and totally professional at what he does. I wonder what happens to the nurse who made these allegations! Is she off scott free? Or do we have any legislation in place that penalises such behaviour?
The least she can do is make a formal apology to Mr Zammit whilst hospital authorities and Police should take up procedures against her for wasting precious man hours of decent people all round.
Once again Mr Zammit did not need this hassle. He is giving so many lives back to society and i truly wonder what kind of a woman, nurse, could come up with such silly allegations!
Andrew Cumbo
Sep 4th 2010, 23:43
Like always, malicious tactic to make news for PN media, that make a big fuss for a day or two aimed to divert peoples mind from reality, and then same news melt like a piece of ice.
Charles Philip Zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 23:24
prosit profs. i have known you at the times we were at the lyceum hamrun and while i didnt want to comment beforehand i just couldnt fathom how a person such as you could have ever be the author of such things. keep up the good work you are a credit to the medical profession. allow me to recall how during christmas festivities of a couple of years ago my daughter was taken ill with acute pain. on phoning you, you did not hesitate to see her even if you were having a private function at home and you were also busy with your preparations for Dr Sant's operation. thanks again
Muscat Pat
Sep 4th 2010, 21:26
Mr Zammit would not even harm a fly let alone kicking people about. Those who have been under his care can attest how he goes out of his way treating people and showing sympathy and care.
alexander genuis
Sep 4th 2010, 20:29
"IS-SEWWA JIRBAH ZGUR"!!!! BIEX TIKKONGURA TRID TKUN PUR!!!!!!I
ISSA ZGUR JOHORGU JATTAKKAW LILL PSC!!!!!!!!!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 19:19
I don't know why some of us refer to surgeons as Professors. I guess it could be for the same reasons why we address Notary Publics ‘Manifk’ which we inherited from the Sicilians and Italians’ term ‘Magnifico’
In the UK, doctors at the senior level are referred to as consultants. Consultant surgeons, from the time they reach that level, drop the Dr Title and promote themselves to the title of Mr.
I was always under the impression that the reason British surgeons are addressed as 'Mr' is because surgeons were originally not 'proper' medical people, but usually no more than barbers who used their skills with razors and other sharp implements to deal with amputations.
Edward Zammit
Sep 6th 2010, 18:01
Your comments are accurate, down to the barber comment. In fact, surgeons are often the butt of friendly in-jokes in the medical community - 'when in doubt, cut it out', for example. Just friendly banter of course. As I said before Professor is an academic title - few consultants actually hold the title. The nickname 'Il-Profs' is often used to refer to many consultants, by their patients.
Martin Vella
Sep 4th 2010, 18:03
Malta should be proud to have somebody like Mr Tony Zammit,a person who serves the Maltese community with skill and professionalism.
c. camilleri
Sep 4th 2010, 15:46
So this nurse must be mad and is no longer fit for the job. IN such circumstances it is very difficult to find help from your workmates.
Peter Busuttil
Sep 4th 2010, 15:39
@ Suzanne Grech
Just for your info, the PSC board was presided by Edward Borg, with Prof. Godfrey Laferla and Dr Alex Aquilina as members.
Alexia Farrugia
Sep 4th 2010, 13:28
I am wondering whether Il-Mument will have this news items on the front page tomorrow or whether In-Nazzjon will be decent enough to apologise for attacking Prof Zammit with allegations that were dismissed by the PSC.
R Agius
Sep 4th 2010, 17:07
Ha ha ha.....maybe they will apologise after the PL media apologise for the numerous attacks on PN individuals that were subsequently investigated and exonerated - after their political career had been ruined. I will just mention Michael Frendo as one such victim. There are numerous others!
R Grech
Sep 5th 2010, 14:31
@ R Agius: Maybe you are refering also to Michael Falzon, the architect, that according to you was also 'ruined' by the PL media. I wonder how now he is taking it against his former employers. But maybe Mr Agius thinks that the PN is immaculate and only PL does wrong things. Maybe you forgot to mention the Karen Grech and Raymond Caruana cases, where a certain ex Prime Minister told us he knows who did kill them! But Mr Agius is living in another planet it seems..
Susanne Grech
Sep 4th 2010, 13:15
@Mario Busuttil
Interessanti nkunu nafu jekk kienx hemm imqar TABIB wiehed fil-bord tad-dixxiplina...
Mario Bonnici
Sep 4th 2010, 12:46
Nispera li min attakka lil Prof Zammit issa ikollu d-dicenza li jizkuza ruhu.
patrick zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 12:34
Anybody who has any doubts on Profs Zammit's compassion need only ask his patients or their relatives.
Enzo Caruana
Sep 4th 2010, 12:21
It is very hard to keep poltics out of this very serious case. However, I am very happy for Prof Tony Zammit, one of the most correct and capable sugeons we are blessed with in Malta. The operating theatre is the most crucial department in our health system and God knows how many lives were saved there thanks to Profs Zammit's dedicated care and concern for his patients. He was right to point out "that nurses should be taught operating theatre procedures before they were assigned to assist in operations". That shows Prof's Zammit's dedication to his profession.
Keep up the good work Profs Zammit and God bless you
JOHN RIZZO
Sep 4th 2010, 12:21
LI KELLU L-GEMEL JARA HOTOBTU,JAQA U JMUT ZOPPTU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emanuel Farrugia
Sep 4th 2010, 12:10
I fully agree with the remark made by Ms. Stephanie Abood because I too shared in Prof. Anthony Zammit's professional ability. Although politics brings out a lot of hate in some people, as can be seen from some of the comments in this blog, I believe not even that reason would have made Prof. Anthony Zammit resort to such an attitude. The Public Service Commission and seven other witnesses have just confirmed that I am right.
I hope that none of the nasty comments will deter Prof. Zammit from continuing with his good work both in the Medical and Political Fields.
J Baldacchino
Sep 4th 2010, 12:05
As far as I know regarding Disciplinary Regulations and Procedures within the Public Service, it is not the Public Service Commission ‘per se’ that cleared Profs. Zammit but the Disciplinary Board panel that was setup by the respective Department. Disciplinary regulations within Public Service are known as Public Service Commission (Disciplinary Procedure) Regulations, 1999 (Legal notice 186 of 1999). After this legal notice was issued, Disciplinary power has been delegated to all Heads of Departments who will issue all charges, appoint an independent Board and deliver penalty, excluding Dismissal. The PSC’s role is to decide cases leading to dismissal and receives petitions or appeals raised by the officer being investigated.
Mario Busuttil
Sep 4th 2010, 11:52
As a result of investigation that was concluded on the disciplanary board ,no evidence of such allegations that where made against the Profs. resulted in the negative.Now what are the conclusions.... the nurse invented the STORY or the other that where present in the operation theatre were afraid of telling the TRUTH?
Mark Piscopo
Sep 4th 2010, 11:50
A great Man, Keep up the excellent work Prof.Zammit. You are a major asset for the New PL and for Malta!
C. Camilleri
Sep 4th 2010, 11:49
So was this a frivilous complain? If so, is disciplinary action being taken against the Nurse in question?
S. Zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 11:39
A great man, nice to see he got cleared off this issue. :)
Joseph Zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 11:36
Lanqas l-icken dubju ma kelli li Mr. Zammit se jasal biex igib ruhu hekk. Tista' issaqsi lil kull pazjent ta' Mr. Zammit halli tara kif igib ruhu mal-pazjenti.......dejjem bi tbissima fuq fommu. Bniedem ta' integrita', hila u professjonalita kbira. Kompli sejjer hekk Mr. Zammit ghax il-Mater Dei nies bhalek ghandu bzonn .......ghax min jobzoq lejn is-semajigi f'wiccu!!!!!
Stephanie Abood
Sep 4th 2010, 11:16
When I was a patient under Professor Zammit's care he was very caring, understanding and extremely professional. Thanks Professor Zammit. You did a world a good to me. I will always cherish your words of encouragement and your positive attitude towards life.
M Pisani
Sep 4th 2010, 11:00
Ghaliex kellom jghidulna tal-PL?? Mur ara kieku ma kienx liberat kemm kienu jippruvaw jahbuha...
Some things never change, PL is one of them! haha!
Philip Grech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:22
Ghaliex ma qalilniex min hu obbligat li jghdilna-Id-Dipartiment tas-Sahha
Anthony Mizzi
Sep 4th 2010, 11:32
Kellhom jghidlna l-LP ghax in-Nazzjonalisti ghamlu xalata 'din l-istorja ghax il-Profs. Zammit huwa MP Laburista u ikkundanawh qabel ma inaghata ic-cans jghid il-verzjoni tieghu
Heading of this article would have been more aptly "Public Service Commission clears PROFESSOR Anthony Zammit".
It is PROFESSOR Anthony Zammit in his capacity as Preofessor that was cleared by the Public Service Commission and not MP Anthony Zammit as a Labour Party MP.
Carmel Grima
Sep 4th 2010, 11:35
Tghix fil-hmieg, tmut fil-hmieg. Mhux ta b'xejn li tinstema' qisek Nazzjonalist! Iftah ghajnejk, habib!
Robert Callus
Sep 4th 2010, 11:43
"Some things never change, PL is one of them! haha"
True, and PN is the other:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100903/opinion/sliema-reaping-what-was-sown
Charles Callus
Sep 4th 2010, 12:30
I'm pretty sure that the PN did the same thing in the past. When one of its cohorts was exonerated, the only thing that the PN did not do was declare a national holiday and take out the carnival floats.
You see, politics, dirty or otherwise works both ways. What is good for PN is good for LP and others.
Victor Laiviera
Sep 4th 2010, 12:35
You are right, Mr Pisani - this should have been published by the DOI.
But that only publishes pro-Government and pro-PN propaganda, like one of the defunct Soviet publications.
Edward Zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 12:50
@Anthony Mizzi
I hope you do not take this the wrong way, but he is Mr. Anthony Zammit, not Professor Zammit. Professor is an academic title which few consultants actually hold. The title 'Mr.', refers to the fact that he is a qualified surgeon, and does not in any way infer inferiority to the title 'Professor'. I personally know Mr. Zammit, and I know he agrees with the above. He never uses 'Professor', and I am sure he couldn't care less about the title. His record speaks for itself.
Anthony Mizzi
Sep 4th 2010, 17:37
@Edward Zammit
It is not me taking it the wrong way, but the emphasis on the headline "Labour MP Anthony Zammit"
At the most "Surgeon Labour MP “or “Prof. Anthony Zammit Labour MP" but certainly not putting the emphasis on "Labour” MP Anthony Zammit" as the title of the topic give lead to.
I know, as one o his ex-patients, He never uses 'Professor', and I am sure he couldn't care less about the title and His record speaks for itself but you can't help the well meaning public ling Anthony Zammit, "Il-Profs"... : )
I sincerely wish "Il-Profs" sincere best wishes of good health and good cheer as he continues to wish his patients, friends and all.
Joseph Camilleri
Sep 4th 2010, 23:49
@Victor Laviera: I'm actually curious to know why you feel that DOI should have issued a press release with this information! Perhaps you could explain.
M.Bartolo
Sep 5th 2010, 10:39
@M Pisani
L-ahbar harguha tal-PL ghax basru li tan-Net mhux ser jghidulek, allura riedu jinfurmak li gidbulek meta qalulek li Labour MP abbuza minn nurse!
Charles Micallef
Sep 4th 2010, 10:54
Where the accusations politically motivated?
If so, the accusers should have the guts to apologies to the victim of these unfounded accusations.
J. Spiteri
Sep 4th 2010, 10:50
I'm quite sure this nurse had no reason to make things up......
Kenneth Williams
Sep 4th 2010, 11:04
It surely showed that she did.....So as you say the other seven witnesses did??
M. Fenech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:06
Most probably she has BLUE EYES!!!!!
Philip Grech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:08
Would she tell you if she had?
Joseph Dimech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:11
Mr Spiteri
... and by the same reasoning, you still think that Pietru Pawl Busuttil shot Raymond Caruana?!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 4th 2010, 11:15
So you have no faith in the Public Service Commision?
Joe Grima
Sep 4th 2010, 11:16
Really? Have you never met anyone who spread a web of lies just because one did not approve of someone's perceived political sympathies? If you haven't we must be living on different planets because I have, and how! I have experienced encrusted political liars, most of whom are still around preaching political correctness, from both sides of the political fence. Most times I would just spit and move on. On rare occasions I went to court.
victor borg
Sep 4th 2010, 11:25
Dear J Spiteri you seem to know exactly what the nurse did so why not tell us what you know its
funny how the rest of the staff disagreed with this nurse. I Happen to know profs Zammit well
and i can never imagine the profs to loose his temper especially when operating.I just hope
this was not politically motivated.
a.grech
Sep 4th 2010, 10:45
Welcome news. Keep up your good and sterling work.
george lewis
Sep 4th 2010, 21:11
congrats to Prof.A.Zammit for being cleared from the malicious accusations.May he carry on his excellent work for the benefit of all those who may one day need him.May God always be with you.