CMA furious at Europa Donna’s claims
THE MEDICAL Association yesterday lashed out at beast cancer forum, Europa Donna, after it publicly blamed botched breast surgical interventions on surgeons’ inexperience in dealing with the many different types of breast cancer.
“Suggestions (to improve medical services) made by organisations or patient representatives are welcome… but the suggestions should be made to the relevant organs, such as the Cyprus Medical Association and the Scientific Association. Statements made directly to the media contain more of an element of sensationalism and create conditions of insecurity among patients,” said the statement.
It added: “The Cyprus Medical Association’s position is that doctors are not above criticism. However, Europa Donna’s statements have gone beyond its authority. Reference to bad practice of surgery, apart from unfortunate, in our opinion, creates unacceptable scaremongering.
“Doctors’ qualifications, capabilities and competency are evaluated and set by structural organs such as Universities, the state, the Medical Council and the authorising organisation which is the Medical Association.”
The statement follows a similar announcement made by the Surgeons Association last week. The furore erupted after Europa Donna held a press conference to announce the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
During the press conference Europa Donna said the number of breast cancer patients in a population as small as Cyprus did not justify the large number of surgeons who carried out breast operations.
Its president, Stella Kyriakides blamed botched surgical interventions on surgeons’ inexperience in dealing with the many different types of breast cancer and urged women to ensure the surgeon they were entrusting this procedure to, had dealt with a substantial number of breast cases per year.
She added that based on EU specifications, the creation of two breast centres was justified in Cyprus. These breast centres should be staffed with a team of experts, including specialised breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and histopatholgists. And a breast surgery clinic could be set up at one of the island’s hospitals, she said.
But, according to the Medical Association “room for improving existing health services exist and will also exist in a science such as medicine, where developments are rapid and daily. The Cyprus Medical Association is working consistently in this direction.”
The announcement stated doctors were kept up to date with latest developments in medicine.
“In the last three years, having set up the system of Continuous Medical Education, doctors in Cyprus follow and enforce the rapid developments in medicine through a series of lectures, medical conferences and other scientific activities,” it said.
According to the Association patients were also informed in detail about their treatment, possible complications and dangers, following the introduction of a patient consent form.
And, it said it had worked closely with the ombudswoman to prepare legislature protecting patients’ rights.
Europa Donna was yesterday unavailable for comment.
