Security concerns cause doctors to leave hospital, quake victims

CNN ^ | 16 Jan '10 | J Redman, D Dellorto J Bonifield

[blueplum]

"CNN initially reported, based on conversations with some of the doctors, that the United Nations ordered the Belgian First Aid and Support Team to evacuate. However, Belgian Chief Coordinator Geert Gijs, a doctor who was at the hospital with 60 Belgian medical personnel, said it was his decision to pull the team out for the night. Gijs said he requested U.N. security personnel to staff the hospital overnight, but was told that peacekeepers would only be able to evacuate the team.

-----Sandra Pierre, a Haitian who has been helping at the makeshift hospital, said the medical staff took most of the supplies with them."

[blueplum]

CNN news is now reporting that the UN has ordered the makeshift hosital and surgical center, set up in the UN warehouse next to the airport, to move. According to a doctor there, UN representatives told the medical staff, this is a warehouse, the people have to go. The medical staff are frustrated and angry - they have no place to go to with the patients and the UN is offering no solutions. Developing....

[sockmonkey]

Thanks for posting that info. I just saw Sandra Cohen, CNN’s medical correspondent report that. I also saw video or Cohen helping at the hospital.
Earlier in the day. I saw her say the only hospital up & running was the one the Israeli’s set up. And I said, “Go Israelis”
This is really just horrible to me, and smacks of the UN’s usual antisemitism, which they don’t seem to care will be at the cost of the suffering victims who were receiving much needed surgery, and other medical intervention.

[sockmonkey]

Sorry, meant video of Cohen helping at the hospital. My blood is boiling.

[sockmonkey]

Sorry, meant video of Cohen helping at the hospital. My blood is boiling.

[Carley]

My heart is broken for the victims of this disaster.

I simply cannot watch any TV coverage.

Just reading your comments hsa me shaking in sorrow and rage.

[TailspinJim]

Retired Lt. Gen Russell Honore should be the guy in charge. He made things happen at Katrina and put up with NO BS.

[blueplum]

The UN needs to get the blazes out of the way and let the grownups handle this. It doesn’t surprise me the Israelis are on top of their game as usual, either. God bless them, they rock!

[Destroyer Sailor]

Send in the MARINES!!!!!!!!

[TChad]

Belgian Chief Coordinator Geert Gijs, a doctor who was at the hospital with 60 Belgian medical personnel, said it was his decision to pull the team out for the night.

It sure sounds like he made the wrong decision. You don't abandon patients.

[Red in Blue PA]

When I heard of this I immediately thought why don’t they just send in the Marines to surround the place?

Do they even know how long it takes to move a hospital?

[TexasGreg]

Say what one will about CNN -- and I have no love for the Network on their politics -- but Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Medical Correspondent and his News Crew, dropped reporting to care for those patients who were dumped by the Belgian Medical Team. God bless Dr. Gupta. From the report:

"What is striking to me as a physician is that patients who just had surgery, patients who are critically ill, are essentially being left here, nobody to care for them," Gupta said.

Sandra Pierre, a Haitian who has been helping at the makeshift hospital, said the medical staff took most of the supplies with them. "All the doctors, all the nurses are gone," she said. "They are expected to be back tomorrow. They had no plan on leaving tonight. It was an order that came suddenly."

She told Gupta, "It's just you."

And, so, Dr. Gupta dropped being a reporter and did what his oath as a physician called him to do ... he cared for the sick and injured. And, he had his CNN Crew help. Again, THANK GOD for them.