Comments on: Upside-down logic

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:18:31 +0000

According to the media this evening, it was revealed that Franco Mercieca is NOT the only ophthalmic surgeon in Malta. Such operations he is performing now were already being done in Malta years ago by other eye surgeons. MALTA TAGHHOM BISS.

By: Gahan

Gahan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:31:43 +0000

In reply to cakku.

Payment is the issue here, Daphne – I’ll explain myself.

Just imagine a person like Eddy Spiritiera who was all out against the “zieda li ha Gonzi” for a 24/7 “job”. How can these same persons reconcile the fact that this bloke is earning all those different ‘wages’ (as they see it) – that of an MP, the other of a “full time” PS and the other as a surgeon at Mater Dei Hospital and yet another as a surgeon at Saint James not to mention his private practice in Gozo?

My conservative estimate would be that before joining the cabinet he was making around Eur20,000 a month.

Allura halluh jaqla’ lira miskin!

If this muddled logic of “Iz-zieda li ha Gonzi” goes out of control, people who voted against Gonzi for the wrong reasons will vote against Labour for the same wrong reasons.

[Daphne – No, they will vote against Labour for having wound them up maliciously about something Labour in effect agreed with and saw as nothing wrong, because it isn’t wrong. If there is one thing we all find unforgivable, it’s being lied to and made a fool of.]

By: rjc

rjc — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:03:22 +0000

Re your first part and the speech by the President at Parliament’s opening, Dr Fenech Adami this morning clearly stated that he had asked for amendments to be made to the speech he was presented to read in 2008.

Dr George Abela could easily have done the same, but obviously he didn’t. He’s only speaking out now after receiving a lot of flak.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:09:31 +0000

Being in a hurry to please all those who contributed to his victory, our amateurish PM has swapped roles to ministers / parliamentary secretaries, as in the case of Dr. Michael Farrugia, a medical doctor practising as a per/sec for Mepa.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:06:14 +0000

It’s not whether he is better being a surgeon; it’s that it should be one or the other, and if the latter was on the cards, then arrangements should have been in place to get a replacement immediately.

The law is the law is the law, and flaunting the law can set a bad precedent, not to mention abuse of power.

[Daphne – It’s not actually the law; it’s the code of ethics for members of the cabinet. But anyway, I agree with you, and that’s exactly what I said. The difference is that I start off from the point that it should have come from him to have turned down that cabinet post on the basis that his skills are needed elsewhere at a medical care level – which they are. ]

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:04:09 +0000

Aahhh, its not upside down logic for them, me thinks. It is a Labour tradition and way of thinking. Why change it?

Censu Moran – minister for health, if you please – used to remove tonsils at Karen Grech Hospital operating theatres in the early 80s (Tuesday mornings if I remember well) and he was not even an ENT surgeon. But then doctors were in short supply at the time.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:57:04 +0000

In reply to PWG. I interpret it as a jellyfish spine. The man is incapable of showing disgust or anger, the two emotions which should be stamped all over PN at this very moment.

By: Mesmes

Mesmes — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:52:56 +0000

Farrugia has a choice before him: his political career or his medical career. He can’t have both right now. And if he is not capable of taking this decision, then he is not fit to be minister, a role which requires many decisions every day for years.

By: Gakku

Gakku — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:48:04 +0000

In reply to cakku. It's not only time constraints and personal access. Is he still seeing patients privately and maybe operating privately? That could be a massive conflict of interest if say cabinet is discussing outsourcing of health services.

By: cakku

cakku — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:58:17 +0000

He should only be given to see patients at state hospitals and for FREE. Why should rich people get preferential treatment, Sur Muscat? I was expecting better but alas was fooled.

[Daphne – Payment isn’t the issue here. Time constraints and personal access to a member of cabinet are the issues.]