Doctors Hospital has threatened legal action against The Nassau Guardian if demands for a retraction for “erroneous and inaccurate statements” published on Monday in connection with the death of Anna Nicole Smith’s 20-year-old son, Daniel, are not made.
Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, vice president of operations Michelle Rassin said that earlier reports in The Guardian were “totally inaccurate.” She claimed that it was nothing more than “irresponsible journalism”. Ms Rassin was referring to a report in the Guardian’s Monday edition, which alleged that a medical team was unable to find the proper oxygen supply needed to resuscitate Daniel at the time, and that the room was a total mess with vomit and blood splattered everywhere. Ms Rassin has categorically denied these claims.
She said the hospital is being quite forthright with information regarding the unfortunate death, but expressed her disappointment in the way that some reports had reflected health care and by extension, journalism in the Bahamas.
“It is unfortunate how such irresponsible reporting can have an impact to our detriment, especially in a situation of such magnitude,” Ms Rassin said. Ms Rassin said that Doctors Hospital is passionate about providing quality heath care to the country’s residents and visitors.
“We would once again like to extend our sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Daniel Wayne Smith, and we’d encourage the press to be sensitive to the family’s loss and give them the opportunity to grieve during this time. We would like to thank our associates for their confidentiality, professionalism, and respect given to our patients and visitors at this time,” she said.
Senior director of communications at the Ministry of Tourism, Basil Smith, said that when dealing with situations that portray Bahamians in the international media, it is important to steer clear of speculation and “hearsay”.
“I’m glad that it was made perfectly clear that the health care people receive when visiting the Bahamas is equal to any received at the best institutions anywhere in the world. But people need to really avoid speculation and hearsay or anything of that sort at this time.
“I don’t think there was any serious damage (to Tourism), but thankfully we don’t see this matter being directly tourism related. But we do deeply sympathize with the mother who is bereaved – but beyond that we don’t have anything else to say on the matter,” he said.
However, Ms Smith’s local attorney Michael Scott of Callenders and Co, was not as forgiving in his opinion of the coverage from the local press.
“Let me say this, I watched the Larry King Live programme last night, and I saw a representative, a journalist, or an apparent journalist from The Guardian making those claims, fanciful claims on being interviewed by Mr King. I don’t know where she gets her information from, I certainly have not heard that.
“That certainly has not emerged from any injury or evidence that I understand has been laid before the authorities, and I think it is sheer speculation. It’s irresponsible speculation, let me point out, and I think that The Guardian needs to take a closer look at its operation,” he said.
The Guardian published a correction of its Monday report on page 10 of yesterday’s edition. Apparently, however, the correction did not satisfy the hospital.
Source: The Tribune
