The Medical Council of Jamaica has set May 26 as the date for the first hearing of the case involving Dr Dennis Pyne, former consultant general thoracic surgeon at the National Chest Hospital.

Pyne has been at the centre of controversy after a report, made by a seven-member committee established to review the hospital's operations, alleged that among other breaches, he solicited public patients to become private ones.

Dr Trevor McCartney, chairman of the medical council, told The Gleaner yesterday that the hearing was estimated to last three months.

Once-per-week meetings

McCartney said the meetings would be held about once per week. This, however, is dependent on the availability of the the attorneys who are representing Pyne and the council.

"It (the enquiry) is going to cost us an arm and a leg," McCartney said, adding that the council would have to bring witnesses from as far as St Elizabeth.

The solicitor general had advised Health Minister Rudyard Spencer to send the report to the council, noting that the minister's committee had no power to make any determination of the rights and obligations of anyone, as it was an advisory body.

Getting quarter salary

Pyne was interdicted last July and had been receiving a quarter of his salary.

However, the board of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) on Monday announced that it would cease the interdiction of Pyne, pending the outcome of the council's investigations.

As such, SERHA said Pyne has been reassigned to the Department of Surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital where he will concentrate on vascular surgery, a position left vacant for some time due to the migration of a consultant in that discipline.

He will also assist with thoracic emergencies when required.

This reassignment, SERHA said, will not affect services at the National Chest Hospital. At present, the region has two qualified cardiothoracic surgeons at the National Chest Hospital, and another will be added to the team within the next two months.

The health authority also noted it was awaiting the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the University Hospital of the West Indies to provide increased coverage for cardiothoracic surgeries in the region.

Speaking to The Gleaner in February, Pyne defended his professional integrity and demanded an apology from the Ministry of Health.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com