ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two weeks after going public with his disaffection over working conditions at Mount St John’s Medical Centre (MSJMC), Dr Leyland Powell has been fired.
Powell got his marching orders Monday in the form of a letter signed by the hospital’s medical director, Dr Dane Abbott and CEO Victor Jackson. In it they inform the junior doctor that his clinical privileges as a house officer at Mount St John’s have been revoked with immediate effect.
The reason stated for his termination is Dr Powell’s defiance of a requirement for him to sleep in at the hospital when working extended overnight shifts.
In his January 16 interview with OBSERVER, Powell said that he and the other junior doctors were being abused and overworked. He explained that his refusal to sleep in was to protest what he regarded as inhumane and unfair treatment by Mount St John’s administration.
The termination letter makes no reference to Powell’s public statements, and it is unclear if they contributed to his dismissal.
The Cuban-trained physician is said to be taking legal advice on how to proceed.
