CONTROVERSIAL neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter has been suspended from practising in Jamaica with immediate effect.

In a notice published on Tuesday, the Medical Council of Jamaica announced that Hunter’s suspension is in keeping with the Medical Act, Section 11 (1) (d).

This section states: “If any person registered under this Act is found, upon enquiry by the council — to be guilty of dishonesty, negligence or incompetence in the performance of his functions as a medical practitioner or of conduct that is disgraceful in a professional respect”, they can be removed from the registry of doctors allowed to practice in the island.

The legislation also includes a provision under which the council “may at any time, if it thinks just, direct the registrar to restore to the register, any name removed therefrom”.

Late last week the Jamaica Observer confirmed that Hunter was scheduled to appear before the disciplinary committee of the Medical Council on July 2 to address an allegation of professional misconduct.

According to reports reaching the Observer, a patient of Hunter’s — through the law firm Knight, Junor and Samuels — wrote the Medical Council alleging that he received substandard treatment during a surgery.

The Medical Council responded to the law firm indicating that it had written to Hunter seeking his response to the allegation within two weeks.

When the Observer spoke to Hunter last week he said he was prepared to mount a strong defence against a charge he believes is premature at best, or being done with malicious intentions at worst.

“It appears that the Medical Council wants to put themselves in front of the courts. Here it is that a gentleman who received back surgery does not want to pay me, and to avoid paying he is finding every little reason to not pay,” said Hunter.

According to the neurosurgeon, the patient owes him a significant sum and is refusing to pay because two medical practitioners he specifically requested were not there.

“Yet he had a successful surgery and, to that extent, he even asked for more time to stay at my facility, my home… and to avoid paying me my money he is finding every little reason. It surprised me that the Medical Council could be used to try an intimidate me,” added Hunter.

He charged that there are many more serious allegations against doctors which the Medical Council has refused to probe and questioned if he is being targeted.

“It goes to show you how they treat certain people one way and other people another way,” said Hunter as he charged that a doctor in rural Jamaica was convicted of assault more than three months ago but he has not been summoned to a hearing by the Medical Council.

“I have written the Medical Council at least 12 times… and pointed out to them that a medical doctor has been convicted and is now a criminal. The canons of the medical profession do not allow you to practice if you are a criminal,” argued Hunter.

The neurosurgeon said that, having failed to convene a hearing for a doctor who has been convicted of a crime, it is questionable that he has been called to a hearing in a case which is being probed by the police.

“If the police are doing a criminal investigation of the man why don’t they allow the criminal investigation to proceed before they come with any action against me?” added Hunter.

He scoffed at allegations that he has been banned from performing surgery at a number of local medical facilities despite the Observer having seen a letter from a private medical facility in the Corporate Area which refused his request to perform surgeries there.

The letter noted that Hunter withdrew his request the day after submitting it.

As news surfaced on Monday about the suspension of Hunter, he told the Observer that he was not aware of that development.

According to Hunter, he has not appeared before the Medical Council and remains accredited to practice in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Hunter is believed to be the man on a voice note which has gone viral, making several allegations against Dr Carl Bruce and questioning his medical qualification, his character, and his integrity.

When he spoke to the Observer Hunter refused to confirm or deny that he was the person on the voice note.

But Bruce, the University Hospital of the West Indies medical chief of staff, has threatened to take legal action over the voice note.

Hunter is the complainant in a criminal case against Bruce. The matter is scheduled for trial on September 29 after Hunter refused to go to mediation.