Alleged chemotherapy toxicity deaths happened more than 15 years ago
Dr Stephen Brincat
The Health Department said today that during a meeting held earlier today between health authorities and Dr Stephen Brincat, with reference to the comments made in the press about people dying from chemotherapy toxicity in Gozo, the former head of the Oncology Department said that he could recall two cases where patients passed away having had treatment in Gozo against the advice of their consultant.
The cases occurred more than 15 years ago.
"At the time there was no specialist register in place to stipulate the administration of chemotherapy," the department said.
"The introduction of specialist registers since EU accession provides for appropriate safeguards for patients in the overseeing of administration of chemotherapy."
The claims were made by Dr Brincat when speaking to The Sunday Times. See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120902/local/Patients-killed-by-chemo-toxicity-.435230
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Claire Abela
Sep 4th 2012, 09:32
Bhala specjalista, immejjilu l-kappell, pero ghalfejn holoq dawn il-paroli kollha issa la ghadda daqshekk zmien!!! Jekk kien hemm xi haga hazina, ghaliex ma tkellimx dak in-nhar? X'jista jirranga issa li ghadda daqshekk zmien? Hlief jiftaf hafna feriti li forsi minn dak iz zmien l hawn kienu taffew xi ftit!! Ma naqbilx mal-ghagir tieghu xejn affattu, jekk kien qieghed jigi imweggha mill-gvern, missu irrezenja biss u zamm halqu maghluq bhal ma ghamel xi 15 il sena ilu, ghax bli pacpac issa hadd ma wegga hlief il familjari tal pazjenti li mietu xi 15 il sena ilu!! Chi molto parla, molto sbaglia!!!!
George Cutajar
Sep 4th 2012, 08:59
Without politicizing this issue making such claims after fifteen years is a bit too much. I can hardly see any connection or irresponsibility with the preset Health Minister.
Joseph Ellul
Sep 4th 2012, 06:35
It is well known that chemo therapy is only partly effective in breast cancer treatments. Most other cancers do not respond well to chemo and can even lessen the life of the patient. 15 years ago cancer therapy was still just in its infancy and those patients who were treated with chemo had to take a chance.
Every cancer sufferer is unique and has to be treated according to his metabolism and medical history. By the time this is done the patient is dead.
Robert Attard
Sep 4th 2012, 05:58
tafu xi tfisser more than 15 years ago?? It could be 16, 17 or 18 years....
J Debrincat
Sep 3rd 2012, 23:20
First of all more than 15 years ago means just that, not exactly 15 years ago! Secondly who knows if he raised this then or not? Just because it is publicised now does not mean that it was not raised by him as a concern when he knew about it.
Ethelbert Schembri
Sep 3rd 2012, 23:10
And as predicted the Govt wants to turn this in to a political issue, how pathetic !!!!
It is so easy to just make the math and just take out 15 years so that it would coincide with a PL Govt .... And if one would like to keep on doing the math, Malta accession in the EU happend in 2004. The PN returned in Govt in 1998 so what about those 6 years without any specialist?? And how about before the 1996 ??
Wasn't it better if the police handled this investigation with well needed independence and let them come out with conclusions.
This is no joke and it's not an issue to play politics with!!!
Peter Agius
Sep 3rd 2012, 22:49
15 years ago. Labour times. We know them. Like sending only their "tesseratti' for a cardio-bypass in the UK.
Joe Portelli
Sep 3rd 2012, 22:32
Whilst one does not question the authenticity of the events and one does not expect a person in this position to be reporting something that happened to patients last week or to the public before reporting to the authorities, there seems to be some unexplained reson why now?
Oil & Water do not mix, and the same applies to Medical practitioners and Politics - its best both are kept seperate.
Tarcisio Vella
Sep 3rd 2012, 22:05
If it is true that the incident occurred a week ago or 15 years ago, Dr. Brincat was bound to inform the Health Department and insist on an investigation. Shame on him if he failed to do so.
John Zammit
Sep 3rd 2012, 21:22
No matter when they happened we lost a person many of us are indebted to him
Leo Said
Sep 3rd 2012, 20:50
And the beat goes on .....
The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain ...........
H. J. Grech
Sep 3rd 2012, 20:30
Knowing Dr. Brincat personally, I'm sure he brought the attention of the authorities about such cases or risks. After all chemotherapy is a very strong cocktail of medicines - I know it from personal experience. I think Dr. Brincat can't go on chairing the oncology dept. when politics come before patients (and relatives), doctors and nurses.
Ms.D. Galea
Sep 3rd 2012, 20:01
Why did Prof .Brincat wait for FIFTEEN years , more precisly on the eve of a general election, before making this revelation in such a sensational manner?
Pat Hobson
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:43
More than 15 years ago. How can it be Labour more than 15 years ago? As for politicizing this issue, why not just be critical of the fact that Mr. Brincat advised the Government about this issue so that there wouldn't be any more mistakes?
Michael Seychell
Sep 3rd 2012, 19:43
Ms Pat Muscat - Whilst I do not agree that this item be given a political tint - you should know that there was a Labour government between 1996 and 1998, and considering that we are in 2012, this means that between 1996 and 2002 there is 16 years and between 1998, and 2002 this is 14 years, therefore the cases mentioned could have happened during those 2 years - or to be more fair 22 months. Of course this could have happened even before the Labour Party government.
In my humble opinion it was very unethical if not totally wrong to mention these cases now, when Dr. Brincat could have brought such cases to the attention of the authorities at the actual time when these incidents happened.
However I repeat that all those trying to take a political advantage of these cases should be ashamed of themselves.
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
John Zammit
Sep 3rd 2012, 21:35
@ M. Seychel but Prof. Brincat has also alleged that there was political interference
M Farrugia
Sep 4th 2012, 05:22
why is he spaking after 15 years Pat. I am sure that you are intelligent enough to give the answer.
Joe Grech
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:40
Kif jista ikun hemm staff b'esperjenza u imharreg fl-isptar ta' Ghawdex fejn dan it-tip ta' mard f'Ghawdex huwa limitat filwaqt li f'Malta l-impjegati fl-isptarijiet jesperjenzawh diversi drabi kuljum. Jew l-istess impjegati ser ikunu jahdmu Malta u f'Ghawdex fl-istess hin? Jaghmlu zball dawl li jipprovaw iwettqu dan it-tip ta' xoghol bi ftit tahrig. Veru li fl-isptar ta' Ghawdex hemm nies li kif jinghad man of all trades muster of non. Nifhemm li Dr, Brincat ghandu ragun.
Anthony Arpa
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:37
The cases occurred more than 15 years ago.Oh my god ....
So why Dr Stephen Brincat, the former head of the Oncology Department
have decided to step down now and talk about this case NOW. This only means that he hidded this facts for so many years ...
Tony Camilleri
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:47
Anthony Arpa still under PN Governments.
Now because he couldn't suffer any longer the interference by the Government in decisions which should only be taken by professionals and not political decisions by politicians.
Dwardu ellul
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:28
Ma noqghodux induru mal lewza biex issa nwahhlu fil Partit laburista, Dr.Stephen Brincat ilu jhambaq biex ma jsirux chemo ghal pazjenti Ghawdex, tipprovawx iddawruha fuq tal labour ghax qal li saru hmistax il sena ilu , ghax kieku kien jirrazenja dak inhar u kien johloq storbju dak inhar, issa li qieghed jigri , li min jghidulu biex jiehu il chemo b'favuritizmu ghal certu pazzjenti , dak kien wiehed mil primi suggetti, kien jigi struzzjonat lil min ghandu lil min jiehu chemo u min mghandux, ma ndahqux, dejjem tipprovaw iggiebuha fuq tal labour ghax issa n-nies mghdomx cwiec, irrazenja ghax xeba min jindahallu, fejn hemm nies ma jifhmux jahsbu li ghax ghandom il poter kienu jirbuh, ghalhekk iddejjaq bl-indhil mhux korrett, dik turi kemm hija nieqsa l-meritokrazzijja hawn Malta
H. Galea (NRK)
Sep 3rd 2012, 19:01
Waqa l’ass ! kemm ahna sbieh min jaf jarana ! ergajna fuq il-politika !!! ... u dan meta hemm kas serju ta’ qtil (”killings”). Ara jien x’nigi naqa u nqum, liema partit ser jiehu punt vantagg jew svantagg !
Jien irrid nara
1) Li, jekk hemm xi pratika inkompetenti li qed issehh, din ghanda tigi mwaqqfa immedjatament, u jittiehu dawk il-passi indikati sabiex il-pazjenti kollha jigu trattati ndaqs.
2) L-individwu/i (ikunu min ikunu) li hadu parti f’dawk iz-zewgt kazi jiehu dak kollu li haqqhom.
Joseph Aquilina
Sep 3rd 2012, 19:57
@Dwardu ellul
Of course, if the Minister responsible is lejber then we have no right to expect for justice to be made. However until a day ago, when Joseph thought that the current Minister was responsible … yesterday … all of lejber demanded justice!! How things change in a few hours!!
John Borg
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:28
If this consultant knew of such a malpractice and did not speak about it, he should be stripped of his warrant. Or could it be he was afraid to speak because it happened in 1997? Who was in government in 1997?
clive bartolo
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:38
he could then have spoken in 1998 couldn't he??
Tony Camilleri
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:49
He didn't because there was no such interference under PL.
And it was also MORE than 15 years ago, so before PL government.
H. Galea (NRK)
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:16
I am sure that Dr Emmy Bezzina's intervention would be of great help. I am no man of law, but I am interested to discover whether there are any such legal technicalities such as "preskrizzjoni" in connection with involuntary manslaughter, homicide, eutanasia ... etc. Considering that the 2 cases in question have been maturing for 15 years - what now ? Dr Bezzina (if you will kindly allow me to seek your expert intervention ?) I thank you kindly in advance.
John Borg
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:08
Everyone knows that if you need an urgent operation, you need to go to a consultant who will refer you to hospital. It is shameful tat Labour tries to make a capital out of everything. if he asks his candidates who are consultants, he should get a rough idea whether they ever helped anyone 'jump' the queue!
Joseph Aquilina
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:58
2012 - 15 = 1997 ... now that explains everything!!!
I think it is Joseph's lejber that should apologies!!
m. borg (slm)
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:17
1997 I recall there was a Nationalist government and Oh, by the way does it make it all right that the deaths happened 15 years ago.?
Really something to think deeply about.
Joseph Aquilina
Sep 3rd 2012, 23:11
@m. borg (slm)
How old are you? 10? In 1997 there was Alfred Sant as Prime Minister. Again, I can't understand this urge by lejber to always want to change historical facts .... sometimes to the level of absurdity!!
j brincat
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:48
@J. Debono
"http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120902/local/pn-health-minister-will-have-to-respond-to-claim-by-former-oncology-head.435360
talk about backfiring - I think Dr. J. Muscat should swallow his words over this"
AND since you claim to read very carefully, Dr Brincat's accusations were NOT all about the toxicity of chemotherapy! He said MUCH and MUCH more!
Capito?
(jb)
Ms ANNA GRECH
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:41
Incredible to blurt out such accusations now after 15 when, in the meantime, he was heading the oncology department. If what he claims is true, I am totally in awe as to why he kept all this secret till he decided to resign from the post and accept to be interviewed by The Sunday Times. Mistakes by members of his profession go 6-feet under!
Ms ANNA GRECH
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:40
Incredible to blurt out such accusations now after 15 when, in the meantime, he was heading the oncology department. If what he claims is true, I am totally in awe as to why he kept all this secret till he decided to resign from the post and accept to be interviewed by The Sunday Times. Mistakes by members of his profession go 6-feet under!
j brincat
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:36
@J. Debono
"I read very carefully - extremely carefully in fact".
I don't think so, taf?
I have always learned (or learnt) that 'about' has the same meaning as 'circa' which translates to '+ or - 10!.
AND how can we be sure that it was actually 15 years WHEN there was NO specialist register?
So do your sums again, please!
(jb)
LINA FARRUGIA
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:21
What a shame, as if we did not care for patients before the EU specialsit register. No one who has a conscience would say such things, after fifteen years, as Dr Brincat is alleging. I cannot believe that Dr Brincat would bring up such allegations to justify his decsion to resign, forgetting the hurt and harm he is causing to so many patients and their families. He stated he resigned for reasons that are upsetting him now, and he should stick to his position. But as usual the Maltese prefer to give it a political tinge,rather than to respect patients who need chemotherapy. Shame. Lina Farrugia
m. borg (slm)
Sep 3rd 2012, 18:20
He resigned as chairperson and not as a practicing oncologist.
j brincat
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:11
@J. Debono
"15 years ago - that means 1997.
Hmmmm - wonder where Eddy Privitera is now?"
PLEASE read carefully - MORE than fifteen years ago - this must surely be under a PN government!
Grow up!
Whenever it happened these things SHOULD never happen! We are talking about human lives here and not some guinea pig!
(jb)
J Busuttil
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:18
@ j.brincat
I imagined that people like you would find this excuse its about time that you and people like you would grow up and anything that happiness in health and other issues that would hinder people under treatment would not be politicised like the PL are always prepared to do l-aqwa jirbhu il-voti.
J. Debono
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:20
@ J. Brincat
I read very carefully - extremely carefully in fact.
If it happened before 1996 they would have said - more than 16 years ago - wouldn't they?
More than 15 years means - 15 years and a few months but less than 16 years.
Besides the fact that it was the anti-PN group who turned the issue into a political one. Now it backfired.
J. Debono
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:09
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120902/local/pn-health-minister-will-have-to-respond-to-claim-by-former-oncology-head.435360
talk about backfiring - I think Dr. J. Muscat should swallow his words over this.
E. Vassallo
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:05
More than 15 years ago? Anyway, all unwarranted and negligent deaths should be investigated. But I would have expected better from profs. Brincat.
Marco Cremona
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:05
I wait for Dr. Brincat's reaction to the Health Department's statement.
J. Debono
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:52
15 years ago - that means 1997.
Hmmmm - wonder where Eddy Privitera is now?
J Busuttil
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:11
@ J. Debono
" Hmmmm - wonder where Eddy Privitera is now? "
I am sure he is trying to find an excuse or reduce the damage.
Victor Calleja
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:15
In 1979 Alfred San's government was struggling to settle things which he inherited from PN administration. We can't give the blame to a Labour government when he was only one year in office. If Mintoff did not vote against his own party we are much better than we are now with this incompetent government.
J Busuttil
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:20
@ Victor Calleja
Allura Mintoff kien traditur?
J. Debono
Sep 3rd 2012, 17:26
@ Victor Calleja
So you are saying that, as PL was only 1 year in Govt. he should not be accountable, as Dr. Joseph Muscat is insisting?
K. Vella
Sep 3rd 2012, 20:51
Not just Eddy, now It will be interesting what Joseph Muscat will say....
Nsomma, let's face it....he will find another convenient excuse..a populist answer...as always....
LAbour will NEVER change....
K. Vella
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:51
Are we saying that this happened 15 years ago?
i.e. 2012 - 15 years = 1997 .....who was the Minister responsible at that time?
Godwin C Micallef
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:44
Accountability !? Lol! I liked best the declaration by the Department "The introduction of specialist registers since EU accession provides for appropriate safeguards for patients in the overseeing of administration of chemotherapy." Does it mean that if we did not join the EU there would have been more deaths?
carmel muscat
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:25
domt ma tkellimt sur brincat dan ghaliex tkellimt issa ???????? din mijjiex serjeta - - - -- - - - - - - - - - --
Joseph Agius
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:24
Are we going to move a motion of no confidence in Dr Michael Farrugia??
Sue Borg
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:22
How irresponsible! To keep quiet for 15 years and then try to put the current Minister in bad light!
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:20
Hadd ma hu ghama iktar minn min ma jridx jara. Li jghodd hu li hemm riskju ta' mewt jekk wiehed ma jimxix fuq proceduri stabbiliti, jew ahjar nghid, hemm riskju ikbar ta' mewt f'dak il-kaz. Il-fatti ma jimbidlux, ghax ghaddew hmistax il-sena. Jekk jergghu ma jimxux fuq proceduri tajba, nergghu koppi f'xi hin. Dal-proceduri jistghu jitkellmu fuqhom biss dawk li jifhmu, li d-direttur taghhom hu Stephen Brincat. Jekk joqtlulek lil ommok xorta mejta tibqa' wara hmistax il-sena. Jew ser naghmlu bhall-povru sajjied li tgharraq f'Marsamxett u qiesu ma gara xejn. Kulhadd jghid 'U iva, tghaddi' sakemm joqorsu lilu, izda tabib serju dan qatt ma jaghmlu, jitghallem mill-izbalji u jipprova jahrabhom: 'Primum non nocere'
Giovanni Zammit
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:13
Why didn't he speak 15 years ago?
Frank Gauci
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:10
how funny!!! so Dr Stephan Brincat had to wait for more that 15 years to talk about this matter... and what about those people who received treatment these last 15 years??? He knew that people were having a bad treatment and he kept quiet ??
Something is very funny here!!!
John J Borg
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:27
i guess he speaks now because he does not want to see the same errors repeated ......it may not have been his responsability 15 years ago......but to speak now it is........chemo is never an easy choice, and one hopes to be given the right treatment.
j brincat
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:05
So what are we saying exactly here? That these cases are statute barred?
Fifteen years, twenty etc The crux of the matter is whether they happened or not.
Did they happen?
If the answer is in the affirmative then someone, irrespective of somewhere and sometime, should be held accountable!
Or because these happened more than fifteen years ago no eyebrows are raised (it's not me syndrome)!
(jb)
(jb)
Anthony Zammit
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:04
Whenever something good for Gozo is to happen, all hell breaks loose...
Remember the Decompression chamber or the CT scan anyone??!!!!
Gianninu Saliba
Sep 3rd 2012, 16:03
Interesting, very interesting!! Fifteen years ago we had a Labour Government. Now, tell us, dear Joseph, who do you expect should carry political responsibility?
Joseph Bugeja
Sep 3rd 2012, 15:59
"More than 15 years ago "
Fin 1996,meta kien il Lbour fil- gvern???
Tghid kumbinazzjoni?
twanny borg
Sep 3rd 2012, 15:57
ma nafx donnha xi buzzieqa ohra din! allura aktar minn 15-il sena issa qed jitkellem? qallhom il-familjari?
H. Galea (NRK)
Sep 3rd 2012, 15:54
Thanks for the ride Dr Brincat ! but I still did not like it ! Why have you kept your mouth shut ever since you have assumed the responsability??
Please choose the reason of your report below: