Concerned That Salas-Matanane Is Siding With Doctors, And Not Patients

By David Lubofsky

Senator Sabrina Salas Matanane cracked me up when she stated that we must find out what happened, referring to the Guam Memorial Hospital suspicious deaths recently. She seems to imply that this is a new mystery. I am not sure where she has been, but those of us who have been to GMH or “read” know exactly what happened.

Sabrina, did you find out what happened to the baby who died there and the parents pleading for answers a few weeks ago? Did you find out what happened to the Korean mother who died alone in her hotel room after early discharge from GMH? Did you research any of the many alleged negligent incidents over the last seven years? Did you watch Nurse Flores’ testimony at the legislature about another dead child at GMH and the failings and APATHY of the hospital management? Have you been listening to Dr. Akimoto and others who have been talking about the medical and financial mismanagement for years?

NOPE NOPE NOPE

What happened is that you and most of your colleagues failed the people of Guam and have other priorities, not just in the 38th Legislature, but historically as well. This is well documented. You all come out so darn concerned while the DEATH news is hot in the media but disappear as soon as something else becomes the tragedy of the day, not doing squat at GMH as usual. Oh, wait, let’s throw money at GMH and say we fixed the issues and make it a campaign accomplishment as several did. I have watched this scenario play out for six and a half years, repeatedly. Its predictable. It’s my opinion that most, not all, sitting senators at the 38th legislature, as in the past legislatures, do not give two hoots what happens to patients at GMH beyond words. That is what the facts show. Prove me wrong.

DONOR BELLS RING LOUDER THAN FUNERAL BELLS.

I also blame our elected so-called leaders, in particular Senators Chris Duenas, Tina Muna Barnes, Joe San Agustin, and others who have defended and perpetuated the lack of medical accountability at GMH and on Guam for apparent personal reasons. I have met with all of them and have been yelling about this medical negligence scourge for six and a half years now to no avail. I have spoken to at least 60 alleged victims over the last six and a half. How many have you spoken to?

ASK ME WHAT HAPPENED?

We continually see repeated negligence and deaths at GMH or on island. The feds even stated GMH mismanagement contributed to deaths.

READ THE CMS REPORT.

Now we have Senator Sabrina Salas Matanane who promised changes when she ran for lieutenant governor and even stated she supported Senator Therese Terlaje’s efforts to improve things with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. It seems that promise has been lost or is ignored as to what she discussed when a candidate for lieutenant governor. She even stated clearly then that not much is going on at the medical board implying then that no one is protecting medical consumers but with that, Sabrina was one of the first to reappoint Dr. Berg back to the medical board.

Sabrina, like other senators, seems more inclined to now checking their rear-view mirrors before saving lives by asserting long overdue change for accountability at GMH and on Guam. Sabrina, we are dying, simply put, in part due to apathy by the Guam Legislature. You and the 38th now own this issue. How many will die on your watch?

How long before our elected leaders instill through legislation accountability in the medical field? Most of our senators are living on the Kool Aid myths fed to them by their medical donors and others in the medical field while your constituents die painful nightmare deaths from medical negligence. Senator Will Parkinson seems to be the only one with gonads to introduce reform on malpractice laws through Bill 82-38.

Sabrina and the 38th leaders, why not talk to victims instead of donors, ahhh doctors? Listen to real stories, not dismiss them as has been done for decades. Wearing a white coat does not make them smarter or more informed, but it does give them greater personal agendas for a lack of accountability than victims who are dying on your watch.

Senator Sabrina Salas Matanane IS WHAT HAPPENED. We placed hope and trust in her but stand on the sidelines watching our fellow Guamanians suffer the same sad fate with no one doing anything about it.

I am saying this not because I lived it, God knows. My son is gone. I am saying this to protect your own kids and loved ones and the people of Guam from living a nightmare due to failed leadership. Does a *connected* loved one, God forbid have to die from medical negligence before you all do something? Think about that for a few seconds. I sure hope not.

Let us not forget the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, who has two GMH doctors on the board defending GMH obviously if a complaint is made. This biased board has never once found fault with any Guam doctor in near 70 complaint cases against Guam doctors including death and sexual misconduct under Dr. Berg’s tainted leadership. Then our same senators say all is okay with the board especially Senator Duenas with a nurse wife who supported Berg to be renominated and chose to ignore the board’s failures, even with testimony from victims. That move showed how out of touch our leadership is or the priorities. I would love to debate Senator Duenas on this or any Guam senator on how they can allow the only governing body on Guam for medical accountability to be run by the same person who publicly fought against medical accountability and as mentioned has never, not once found a doctor at fault. Senator Sabrina even supported Bergs’s renomination after she said, ‘NOT MUCH IS GOING ON AT THE BOARD’ in support at that time of Senator Therese Terlaje’s efforts to make the board accountable. UNBELIEVABLE!!

Keep in mind that one percent of doctors commit thirty-two percent of malpractice nationally, but this figure is much higher on Guam as there is no accountability, none, and repeat sinners run free to do it again and again, in part thanks to the Guam Board of Medical Examiners and the Mandatory Medical Malpractice Arbitration Act. By the way, the Mandatory Medical Malpractice Act is one reason, we cannot get specialists on Guam, as irony has it.

It is sad that these deaths mean nothing apparently to most of our Guam leadership, but do not worry the donations will still be there for you all, seemingly the priority as 2026 approaches.

SHAME!!

David Lubofsky, Ed.D, is a resident of Tamuning and an advocate for improved medical care through medical accountability equity.