The resignation of Professor Stephen Brincat as the head of the Oncology Department was met with thunder and lightning, the like of which we have not seen in these islands for quite some time! Rightly so.

“His resignation was accepted,” said the Health Ministry, “providing the opportunity for.new and exciting changes to occur and for all the developments that have long been planned to finally be rolled out, and also to bring this department to acceptable international standard.”

This amazing statement from the Health Ministry is vitriolic, venomous and vicious.

It strikes very strong vibes that the good Professor was obstructing “..new and exciting changes to occur..........”.

It also tries to give the impression that his department was sub-standard. What absolute trash! I have the honour of knowing Professor Stephen Brincat, both as a friend, and as a fellow doctor colleague. He is one of our top experts in the fields of oncology in these islands. For goodness sake, it is the well-being of all our cancer patients in these islands that is at stake!. As a doctor of over 40 years experience, I know that “continuity of care”, is the essence of proper medical care.

Finally, I will end by quoting the famous Litany of Sir Robert Hutchinson,

“From inability to let well alone,

From too much zeal for the new, and contempt for what is old. From putting knowledge before wisdom, science before art, and cleverness before common sense.

From treating patients as cases. And for making the cure of the disease more grievous than the endurance of the same, Good Lord deliver us”

■ Colonel(Retd) Chevalier

Dr. Raymond Bencini

Zebbug