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TCI Hospital hosts Medical Ethics Symposium on ‘Informed Consent’

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#Providenciales, September 19, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – InterHealth Canada – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital hosted a Medical Ethics Symposium for nearly 70 health care professionals at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on September 14th, 2018 under the theme “Informed Consent – Recommended Best Practices.”

Informed consent is based on the moral and legal premise of patient autonomy and their right to make decisions about a particular treatment or test with an understanding of the risks and benefits.  The symposium was developed to exchange knowledge on the latest best practices, common challenges and pitfalls associated with soliciting informed consent from patients.

Claire Horner, a Clinical Ethicist, Lawyer and Assistant Professor at the Centre for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine gave a keynote presentation.  Horner stressed that informed consent is a process and not simply a form.  This process involves several critical elements including disclosure of information, effective documentation, a patient’s right to refuse treatment and exceptions to the informed consent rule in cases of emergency, incapacity, waiver or therapeutic privilege.

The presentation provided an overview of the ethics of informed consent, shared decision-making, cognitive biases, decision aids, the difficulties associated with hard cases and what health care professionals should avoid.  Other speakers based at the medical facility included Dr. Henry Blythe, General Practitioner who provided a regional perspective in partnership with Dr. Dionne Ranglin-Robinson, Anesthesiologist, who evaluated several key findings from a unique study on informed consent.  The event was chaired by TCI Hospital Chief of Medical Services, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant.

Advance healthcare directives, or a living will that pre-documents a patient’s wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life or incapacitation is a growing practice in many jurisdictions.  Persons are encouraged to make decisions ahead of time so their care is aligned with their preferences and/or nominate a relative or friend to be their alternate decision maker in cases where informed consent is required.

During the visit to the medical facility, Horner also conducted a special CME session and reviewed the hospital’s current policies and standards of practice related to informed consent.  The expert’s recommendations will be used to further strengthen the existing framework.  Other areas examined included practices related to Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders and the withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Care.  The symposium is held every two years, and is extended to health care practitioners from across the country to promote standardized practices across community medical facilities to benefit the patient’s continuum of care.

Commenting on the symposium, Chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee at TCI Hospital, Dr. Henry Blythe said: “Informed consent represents one of the major tenets of medical ethics.  This consent may be in the form of a consent document, verbal or implied.  There are some cases that require written consent such as invasive procedures.  It is important for our staff to be knowledgeable of the different scenarios where each of these cases apply.  As part of our quality improvement, we want patients to become more involved in their care.  It is okay to ask why, or disagree with a proposed treatment.  It is important to require full disclosure.  Medical care should no longer be approached in a paternalistic manner and patients have the right to question their care.”

 

 

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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