THOSE RESPONSIBLE…DON’T GIVE A DAMN

MELROY AND PADMINI M C RAE PLAN FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE
HEALTH MINISTRY following the amputation of the wife’s left limb while a patient at the
Infectious Disease Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast, Demerara.
Mr. M c Rae justifies proceeding with the litigation explaining that those responsible for the
unspeakable sufferings of his wife, “don’t give a damn”.
The loss of Mrs. M c Rae’s limb was traumatising. But they were unprepared for the insensitive
response by the government Ministry to their tragedy which the married couple of three decades
said left them numb from shock.
Mr. M c Rae told www.aroundtheregions.com that the family’s attorney has already briefed them
on issues surrounding the litigation and they will be seeking legal remedy.
“My wife is depressed. It’s a constant battle trying to cheer her up. I cannot be around her all the
time because I am self-employed and have to work to earn. Considering what she has gone
through, and the manner she has been treated thus far (by the authorities of the Ministry Health)
she is very depressed,” said Mr. M c Rae said.
He admitted, “It’s hard on us economically, emotionally, mentally and even socially because we
are going through so much right now and it seems that those who should be held responsible
don’t give a damn about my wife,” the emotional husband said during the interview.
Padmini’s descent into the abyss began with Woodlands Hospital misdiagnosis of the deadly
COVID-19 which landed her as patient in the Infectious Disease Hospital. There, a gas bottle fell
on her left limb which led, initially, to her losing two toes after she was transferred to the
country’s apex healthcare institution, the Georgetown Public Hospital Complex (GPHC).
In her explanations, a series of fuzzy, bizarre events followed, leading to the amputation of most
of her lower limb.
Then the Health Ministry imitated Pontius Pilate by symbolically washed their hands off their
troubles, the couple reports.

“It is as though they just want us to forget about what occurred. It’s like my wife’s life is of no
importance. [For them at the Secretariat of the Ministry of Health] nothing is wrong with her
losing a leg. As her husband of 34 years, I will not sit by while this grave injustice is continued
against her. She will never again have the services of her leg and as such, they should
compensate her for that. We never bargained for this and the Ministry should have ensured that
all systems were properly in place (to prevent) such accidents occurring,” M c Rae argued.
Venting his outrage, Mr. M c Rae said the health authorities are still avoiding them. No one seems
willing to admit that negligence resulted in his wife’s becoming an amputee.
However, Ms. Sarah Gadraj, Coordinator within the Secretariat of the Minister of Health, Dr
Frank Anthony, countered saying she is reaching out to assist the distraught couple but the
husband demands only financial assistance.
“I have a wheelchair in the system that he could have gotten but he came there and told me that
he bought one, he never told me that he wanted one. He knows that he can always access me and
his son also knows this,” Gadraj said.
She denied Mr. M c Rae ever indicated needing the services of a nurse to help his wife. According
to the MoH official he rebuffed her offers of assistance which also included gauze bandage to
dress what’s left of her left limb.
The Senior MoH official says while their situation is unfortunate, the Mc Rae’s are using it as a
negotiating tactic for maximum benefit from the Health Ministry.
But the Ministry will not be frightened into submission, Gadraj promised.
The husband told www.aroundtheregions.com that Gadraj is now on a crusade of “damage
control” trying to cast doubts on his statements.
“This is very hurtful, unfortunate and unfair to us as my wife went into the institution as they
(GPHC) took her there when I asked if my wife can’t go home and quarantine. They said no.
Now…they are now shifting blame. This will not work. I am going to be fighting this matter as
my wife now has to depend on persons to get around,” Mr. M c Ray reiterated.
The health authorities want to make arrangements for Mrs M c Rae to receive a monthly $10,000
in public assistance through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. However, they

wanted the husband locate the doctor who performed her amputation to sign the form for this to
happen.
“This is an unfortunate situation. It is something that no one seeks pleasure in…it’s not nice we
don’t want to make it worst, we are trying our best to help but Mr. McRae also has to keep it
straight,” Gadraj reasoned.
Then she proceeded immediately to make it worse.
“The accident came because Mrs. M c Rae was not seeing. The development of her diabetic
condition was so bad that she was not seeing well…she moved about and pull the bottle unto her
feet.”

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