BASSETERRE, ST KITTS – The J N France General Hospital Stem Cell Scandal seems not to be going away anytime soon. St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) caretaker for St, Christopher 8, and Dr. Terrance Drew said Wednesday the party is not against Regenerative Stem Cell Research, but opposes the recent efforts by the Timothy Harris-led PLP/CCM/PAM government to begin a research activity at the J N France General Hospital through the backdoor deals without the proper guidelines.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Patrick Martin shut down a project which began on June 13th in the Private Ward with six patients under the guidance of a Brazilian doctor who was not registered or licensed under the Medical Act. One of the patients, American Richard Westin of Kentucky was arrested at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport with an unlicensed firearm in his luggage as he checked in to travel with Canadian billionaire Peter Nygard, the hard-partying retail tycoon, who is also involved in stem cell research.
As a result, Dr. Martin was immediately sent on vacation and pre retirement leave, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr Andrew Skerritt immediately transferred inconsistencies arose in statements from the Minister of State with responsibility for Heath, Sen. Wendy Phipps, Minister of Health Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Medical Chief of Staff, and now Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson; Prime Minister Dr the Hon.
Timothy Harris launched a verbal attack on Dr. Martin at a Press Conference and the PLP Chairman, Mr Douglas Wattley accused the government of demonising Dr. Marin and called it “wicked and evil” and tendered his resignation as Chairman of the state-owned ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
“What we are against are efforts by persons to introduce stem cell research through backdoor deals and shenenigans and bring stem cell through unethical and illegal’s ways into St Kitts and Nevis. That is why it is so important for it to be done in a proper way with legislation, protocols and ethical standards in place,” said Dr. Drew, a Cuban and American trained internist.
He said the United States Congress is soon to hold hearings on stem cell research because there are efforts to offer treatment which is not well established.
“A lot of people who are receiving stem cell treatment are developing cancers, very aggressive cancers, the likes of which the best cancer specialists in the world have never seen,” said Dr. Drew during Wednesday’s edition of Issues on Freedom FM 106.5.
He reiterated that the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is not against Regenerative Stem cell Research. “What we are proposing is that it is should be done in a proper way with proper legislation, protocols and rules and ethical guidelines in place and the legislative authority consulted,” said Dr. Drew,, who pointed out that the recent Stem Cell activity at the J N France General Hospital involved the use of a blood product brought into St Kitts and Nevis.
“According to the laws any blood product brought into the Federation must have the permission of the Chief Medical Officer and the Office of the CMO was not involved. No declaration came from the Office of the CMO. It means that the blood product which was brought in was done illegally and whoever brought it in should be investigation.
To date there is no known police investigation taking place. As unregulated importation of blood products can result in new diseases,” said Dr Drew, who pointed out that any person bringing a pet into St Kitts and Nevis, has to go through Veterinary guidelines and Customs.
“The laws in St Kitts and Nevis was broken when a blood product or plasma was brought into St Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr Drew further pointing out that once the blood plasma arrive in St Kitts the treatment began at the J N France General Hospital. He said a medical file must be prepared for each patient admitted to a hospital.
Dr Drew pointed out several inconsistencies of Minister of State Wendy Phipps who at first denied that any stem cell research activity took place at the hospital but disclosed that government paid nurses were assigned to a regenerative stem cell activity in the hospital’s private ward pro bono.
“This clearly shows that the government was fully involved in an illegal project which was not sanctioned by the CMO and the only specialist in stem cell research was the Brazilian doctor. Our local physician named by Minister Phipps is not a specialist in stem cell research,” he said.