Guy, Tufton spar over Fearon police probe

WHILE MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton awaits the outcome of a criminal investigation into the controversial death of 23-year-old Jodian Fearon, he has been urged not to defer an internal probe into an issue that has triggered widespread national anger.

Fearon, who was allegedly denied care by three hospitals, died shortly after giving birth on Saturday.

Dr Morais Guy, leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives, yesterday disagreed with police intervention in the matter at this stage.

But Tufton told the House that the ministry would comply with the police and provide “all documents related to this matter to advance the investigation and the proffering of charges as may be deemed necessary”.

He made it clear that the Government did not instruct the police to conduct an investigation, a pronouncement that was also echoed by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang.

WELL KNOWN

The national security minister said that Fearon, who was an employee at the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency, worked closely with the police and was well known.

However, Guy argued that the ministry should push ahead with its own investigation and make recommendations to avoid a recurrence.

Guy, who is also the opposition spokesman on health, cautioned that a police probe could be dragged out before the courts for years before finding closure.

“There is also the Medical Council of Jamaica which has the authority to look into matters such as this,” he added.

Guy reiterated the Opposition’s call for a commission of enquiry into the matter.

In his statement to Parliament, Tufton said that based on the ministry’s administrative review to date, the Victoria Jubilee and the Spanish Town hospitals adhered to the established procedures on the transfer of patients from private facilities. “These protocols are to ensure the safety of all parties and to provide for the best outcome for the patient and staff.”

He said the ministry has put in place at hospitals all across the island an increased capacity to manage suspected cases of COVID19. However, he said that each hospital has a limit on how many patients it can accommodate.

Tufton reported that more than 500 suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been managed in hospitals islandwide. There were 114 cases in hospital as at April 26.

Fearon died after she was allegedly denied care at the Andrews Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital. It’s understood that medical officials at Andrews, where Fearon went first, feared she had the coronavirus. She later tested negative.

Fearon eventually gave birth to a girl at the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine.