Secretary for Health and Social Services, Claudia Groome-Duke, has confirmed that a report on the maternal and neonatal death of 35-year-old Lecianna Sheppard and her baby Ajani Sheppard on October 31, last year, was received from the investigative team headed by attorney and doctor Albert Persad.
Speaking at the post-Executive Council news conference yesterday, a seemingly flustered Groome-Duke said the report was submitted to the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) Board and was then forwarded to the Senior State Counsel within the Tobago House of Assembly for perusal. Although the TRHA was given a 24-hour ultimatum, on Tuesday, by attorney Martin George on behalf of his client Brinsley Sheppard, to make the document public, Groome-Duke said the report would be sent to the lawyer within one week.
“The board received the document from Dr Albert Persad which has been forwarded to the Senior State Counsel Mr Alvin Pascal and I am told that the Senior State Counsel has made a commitment to communicate with Mr Sheppard and his lawyer within a week’s time. “He further stated that all information related to this incident will be made known to Mr Sheppard and as a reasonable body all that can be done for Mr Sheppard for the loss of his family will be done as soon as possible,” she said.
When questioned about the cause of the delay in releasing the findings of the report to the media and by extension the public, Groome-Duke maintained that it would be a breach of protocol to release personal medical records. She added that following the autopsy, tissue samples were sent to Canada for testing which in itself came with some hiccups. Groome-Duke also revealed that the doctor involved in the matter had since resigned from the TRHA, while the nurse had resumed normal duties.