HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 668366,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/668366/?format=api",
"text_counter": 308,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I do this because the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, otherwise, called Cap 253 of the laws of Kenya, is highly abused. Specifically this afternoon, I congratulate Sen. (Prof.) Lesan for focusing on the quacks. Of course, we have abuse that is also within even the professionals themselves. You find somebody who does not have sufficient qualifications stretching himself to attempt to discharge as if they were better qualified. For example, a case of a clinical officer trying to carry out surgery normally, invariably, has disastrous consequences. I support it because this Bill sets out offences and penalties related to professional misconduct in the practice of medicine and dentistry. This Bill, therefore, seeks to enhance the penalties set out in the Act, given the high number of complaints arising from cases of professional misconduct and misrepresentation in the profession. Members will remember that on many occasions in this House, many Senators and even hon. Members in the National Assembly have raised questions of professional misconduct and misrepresentation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, laud the Senator for Bomet. As I second him, I am in full support. However, I beg him to consider the following thoughts. The first one is Clause 2 of the amendment Bill where you want to delete sub-section 5. Now, the House should know what that sub-section is all about. On the parent Act, it provides for the registrar of births and deaths as to who is expected to notify the registrar of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPDB) of the death of any registered medical practitioner or dentist. Sen. (Prof.) Lesan, let us think about this. What mischief is there? Why do you want to delete that? This Section was put there for purposes of good order so that a particular office, the registrar, should not just wake up and strike out Sen (Prof.) Lesan that you are dead. He should be informed by the Registrar of Births and Deaths. There are many incidences where somebody has claimed that so and so is dead. Probably, they want to inherit your property or wife, for example. They can go to whatever extent to get you deregistered. Being deregistered as a medical practitioner is a very important and serious issue. Sen. (Prof.) Lesan, I beg you that if you can bear with me, since you are curing no mischief, we just leave sub-section 5 to stay. In Clause 3, you want, at Section 14 of the principal Act, to amend sub-section 1 by those deletions. I support you, Professor, because you are acknowledging the fact that in the Fourth Schedule, health is a fully devolved function. Secondly, you must be lauded for this because you are now aligning this Act with the new Constitution. In Clause 4, I also want to support you strongly. What is it that you are looking for in Clause 4? You are amending it so that quacks can be punished and dealt with properly. The issue of quacks is real and the Nominated Senator, Sen. Elachi, will recall the fanfare that there was about a quack doctor by the name Mr. Mugo in Githurai who ended up raping a patient and the video went viral. So, Sen. Prof. Lesan, you really impressed me because you have refused to be part of the media and to be a cry baby. Instead, you are part of the solution. We must laud you for this. It is a very good amendment. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}