Angry Arab chief Bahrain correspondent: "This is an update from a friend on the doctors case. If the government can't
even clear the doctors from charges, despite the international outcry, what do
we expect is to happen to other less famous cases?:
The doctors trial is still going on. The court requested
the forensic records to evidence torture from the BICI but the BICI did not
respond. The group of medics have suggested a list
of internationally accredited medical professionals to hold the forensic tests
for the torture victims as the court has ordered such test be administered. The
verdicts are expected to come out after approximately three weeks and the
doctors have not been able to practices medicine, some of which still cannot,
for over a year now. The consequences are for those without private clinics is
that they are not able to secure their license and being unable to practice for
the past year along with however longer they are prohibited from
it jeopardizes their medical licenses. Even those who might choose to leave
the country and practice medicine elsewhere will have to re-pass some
significant parts of the medical examination and accreditation process which
also puts their career at a standing point. One of the doctors stated that the
social, economic and legal effects of this are taking a toll on on their lives
as their source of income is stalled, their families are severely affected, some
are suffering from debts and fear the loss of their medical license after these
trials. Moreover, Bahrain has such a limited number of professionals and this
does not only limit the services provided for injured protesters but also for
regular patients who need specific treatments that is provided by only a
handfull of the country's leading doctors, some of which are on trial since last
year's arrests. Apparently there is a 100% deficiency in the transplant
department as well as 100% failure in the Neurology department
since the Minister of HR & Minister of Health Fatema Albeloushi has
attempted to make up for the missing professionals by promoting from grade 5 to
10 who are now failing to perform adequate procedures to
their lack to experience on that level. Also, Mrs. Albeloushi attempted to hire
medics from India which rejected so they requested people from Pakistan &
Jordan."
