SUSPENDED neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter is facing even more trouble as lawyers representing University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and its Medical Chief of Staff Dr Carl Bruce have initiated the first step of legal action against him.

Jamaica Observer sources say lawyers representing UHWI and Bruce have written to Hunter alleging that he has made several “false and defamatory statements” concerning them across various media platforms in recent weeks.

“This is the first step in a move to head to the court to seek millions of dollars in damages from Dr Hunter for the damning allegations he has made, and continues to make,” said the source.

“He has been given a chance to apologise and pull down the posts that he has made on TikTok, Instagram, and almost every other social media platform you can think of. But that will not be the end of the matter. This demands further legal action,” added the source.

In documents seen by the Observer, Hunter is requested to immediately stop referring to UHWI and Bruce by name or photographs in connection with any statement that may tend to negatively affect their reputation.

Hunter is also demanded to, “Remove all defamatory content concerning the UHWI and Bruce from all social media platforms and messaging services within your control; and issue a public apology using the same accounts from which the defamatory contents were posted.”

The lawyers also warned Hunter that, “failure to comply with this demand will result in legal proceedings being commenced against you without further notice. This includes an application for injunctive relief and claims for damages, including aggravated damages and legal costs”.

Hunter has also been warned that the legal team could refer him to the Medical Council of Jamaica as his conduct could be a breach of the Medical Act, which requires all medical professionals to refrain from disgraceful, unethical, or unprofessional conduct.

“Given your recent suspension by the Medical Council one might expect a greater degree of prudence on your part. Our clients reserve the right to lodge a formal complaint with the council which might lead to your removal from the medical register,” the lawyers added.

In a notice published at the start of this month, the Medical Council announced that Hunter had been suspended from practising in Jamaica with immediate effect in keeping with the Medical Act, Section 11 (1) (d).

While the council did not provide details of the alleged breaches by Hunter, the Medical Act, Section 11 (1) (d) 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 there from”.

At that time, Hunter told the Observer that he had not appeared before the Medical Council and remains accredited to practise in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

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.

Bruce is to go on trial in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on September 2, in relation to an alleged fight with Hunter more than 18 years ago.

BRUCE…before the court on an assault charge involving Hunter.