Warning - Bogus Doctors in Bahamas

[GordMay]

Bogus Doctors Alarm

The Bahamas Medical Association* has sounded the alarm over pseudo physicians who are reportedly posing a serious threat to public health (specifically Dr. Kevin King).

The Association says it is "concerned that there are a number of persons practicing medicine [who] are not registered or licensed medical doctors."

The group of medical professionals went as far as running advertisements in local dailies warning members of the public about the problem.

The Association has raised specific concerns regarding a Dr. Kevin King, who operates the Centre for Natural Medicine in New Providence.

Medical Association of the Bahamas ~ Dr. Cyprian Strachan, President
Javon Medical Center
P.O. Box N999
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: + 1 328 1857
Fax: (242) 323 2980
E-mail: mabnassau@yahoo.com

[Euro Cruiser]

Gord, we had a local Board-certified plastic surgeon here in St. Pete who eventually lost his license after engaging in a series of sexual offenses while his patients were under anethesia. (Yes, hard to imagine...). It was a particularly newsworthy event because he was married to the main anchor person at one of our local TV stations (who happend to be a drop-dead gorgeous blond bombshell, if not the smartest tack in the box, so you can imagine all the ways this can be worked by the local journalists...). After losing his license, where did this fellow go but to Freeport on Grand Bahama, where he continued his practice.

Cavaet emptor, as always...

Jack

[capt lar]

i do remote destination flyfishing in the bahamas. occasionally we hear of someone who gets hurt. the clearly understood rule is, for ANY serious injury - fly to miami. this statement is not made lightly. it costs to get a private flight. nassau is not a good choice for medical treatment.
capt. lar

[Vasco]

Interesting, I take it this guy's in Nassau where the worst of the Bahamas seem to gravitate to. For medical assistance in the Exumas most cruisers rely on the government clinics. These are staffed by nurse/practitioners with access to physicians in Nassau. There is a government doctor in Georgetown and there is a move to set up another medical facility. The cruising community has been helping in raising funds for this. GT is the largest community in the Exumas but due to lack of funds still has no x-ray equipment. For anything serious you have to fly to Nassau and St. Margaret's Hospital which is run by the government. The personnel in the Exumas do an excellent job with their limited resources.

[capt lar]

half the population of the bahamas, and the "best" medical facilities are in nassau. as i said - go to miami. i could tell stories, most are of bones not set right, serious infection, removal of part that could have been saved - i know - picky. i guess those of you that sail to far away places are used to this risk, which brings us back around to being responsible and well perpared captains.
capt. lar

[GordMay]

”For anything serious you have to fly to Nassau and St. Margaret's Hospital* which is run by the government. The personnel in the Exumas do an excellent job with their limited resources.”

Per Rick I, the Government Clinic in Georgetown Exuma provides excellent basic services, as does the Nurse (Rosemary) in Staniel Cay. I understand that threr about a dozen Gov’t Clinics throughout the Bahamas.
I’ve used the Dentist (American expat’) in Georgetown for an extraction. Excellent!

For most routine conditions, medical care is adequate in Nassau and Freeport, but it is limited in other areas. Serious health problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate cash payment for health services. Persons with serious or life-threatening conditions normally must be airlifted to hospitals in the United States for treatment.

There are two major hospitals in Nassau, the Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital.

*The most recommended, by both local residents & knowledgeable cruisers, is Doctors Hospital:

Doctors Hospital
147 Shirley Street -or- 1 Collins Avenue (Corner of Shirley St & Collins Ave)
Nassau, New Providence
Tel: 242-322-8411
Fax: 242-322-3284
Email: info@doctorshosp.com
Web: http://www.doctorshosp.com/
The 70+ bed privately operated Doctors Hospital deals with acute care. Medical specialties are emergency medicine, ear, nose and throat, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, family medicine, gastroenterology, urology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and pediatrics. There are three operating rooms, one with laminar flow, intensive care unit with eight beds, maternity suite with 14 beds, nuclear medicine, electroencephalography. Emergency doctors are on the premises 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Princess Margaret Hospital
Shirley Street, Nassau, NP
Tel: 242-322 2861
The 400+ bed publicly (government) operated Princess Margaret Hospital includes the following departments: medical, surgical, maternity, intensive care, pediatrics, eye wing, chest wing, private wing including specialist medical, surgical, obstetrical and gynecological services, ambulatory care facility including accident and emergency, general practice and specialty clinics, dialysis units, laboratory including blood bank, x-ray, physiotherapy and pharmacy. According to the U.S. State Department, "There is a chronic shortage of blood at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, where most emergency surgery is performed. Travelers with rare blood types should know the names and locations of possible blood donors should the need arise."

Rand Memorial Hospital
East Atlantic Drive, Freeport, Grand Bahama
Tel: 242-352-6735
Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, has a 100+ bed hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital. It is a community-type hospital which provides a variety of medical services including medical, surgical, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, accident and emergency, psychiatry, pathology, clinical laboratory and radiology.