Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
Among them were the chairmen of departments including ICU
[Intensive Care Unit], paediatric and OBS/GYN [Obstetrics and
Gynaecology].
It was stated very clearly that the main goal of this meeting was to
decide how to supplement and facilitate the role of the
departments in case of a crisis that necessitates the presence of
extra doctors, nurses and sources like operation theatres,
anaesthesia and others. It was also clearly stated that this was not
going to interfere with the functions of doctors on call in all
departments. Their role was that of a liaison. In fact some doctors
who were assigned these tasks were already chairmen of
departments like ICU, OBS/GYN and paediatrics. [One of the
accused doctors] for example was given responsibility for the
operation theatre. Immediately after the meeting he called [the
Chairman of Surgery] and [the Chairman of the Orthopaedic
Department], and informed them about this. He emphasised that
his role was just a facilitator and both actually had welcomed that.
Luckily enough, no emergency happened until 13 March 2011. At
the end of the meeting, [the Assistant Undersecretary for Hospital
Services] approved everything and when asked if it was an official
meeting, he clearly stated, yes approved by AUS. That was his
exact remark.
711. One of the accused doctors stated that on 19 February 2011 she went
to her department to ensure that the activation of the disaster plan was going
well. 317 Everything seemed normal. She stated that she eventually heard a
call for a meeting on the third floor for all doctors and she stated that the
individual alleged to have been the leader of the accused doctors was
responsible for that call. When she went to the meeting hall, it was closed and
one of the workers from the operations room was not allowing people to enter.
When people were allowed to enter the room, she saw that the individuals
present in the closed meeting included the individual alleged to have been the
leader of the accused doctors and several other doctors. She stated that it was
unclear what had happened in the closed meeting.
712. One of the accused doctors told the Commission that a second
meeting, which was open and attended by many more doctors, was convened
by the individual alleged to have been the leader of the accused doctors. She
observed that this doctor was nervous and in a bad mental state due to the
uncertainty of the situation. He began by giving a presentation explaining that
the meeting was being conducted in cooperation with the Assistant
Undersecretary for Hospital Services, in light of the events of 17 February
2011, and that it had been agreed with him that another team would be
activated in the Emergency Section. During this presentation, the Assistant
Undersecretary for Hospital Services entered and commented on the present.
There was an awkward scene when the convenor of the meeting asked
everyone to clap for the Assistant Undersecretary for Hospital Services. It
317 Witness statement provided to the Commission, 4 August 2011.
182