Cardiologist says division of cardiac services ‘ignorant decision’
Cardiologist Albert Fenech said in court yesterday that the decision to divide cardiac services at Mater Dei Services into two departments is an “ignorant decision” and a “serious mistake”.
Prof. Fenech was testifying in the case he instituted against the Health Minister against the decision to divide cardiac services into two departments – one that is responsible for cardiac surgery and another that is responsible for non-invasive treatment of heart conditions. At present, the two sections are amalgamated in one department.
Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef will rule on the issue next week.
Prof. Fenech said that only two of 11 doctors did not sign the petition against the separation of responsibilities. The department had not been consulted and no reasonable or scientific explanation was given for the decision.
He said he used to work in the largest cardiac hospital, Cleveland Clinic in the US, and the system there operated under one department.
Asked by the government’s legal representative, Bridget Gafa, Prof. Fenech said that this administrative decision will lead to medical problems, apart from administrative issues.
His lawyers, Jason Azzopardi and Andrew Borg Cardona, argued that their client was making his case from a professional angle in the interest of his patients. The decision must be taken “in this light”.