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General Practitioner Josie Muscat is considering starting a new political party.
Speaking to MaltaToday in the wake of a Medical Council announcement that he is under investigation for breach of ethics, the Marsaskala councillor said he hoped his intention to enter the political foray did not fuel the investigation against him.
The former Nationalist MP is accusing the Medical Council of using “two weights and two measures” in his regard for its intention to discuss disciplinary measures against him following last Monday’s broadcast of TVM’s makeover show Arani Issa.
Muscat, the director of St James hospital, will be discussed over a breach of ethics for featuring in a TV advertorial during the makeover of Eurovision singer Chiara.
Muscat said “all radios and TVs are full of doctors”, expressing himself “very surprised” at the council’s decision to discuss disciplinary measures. So far he has not yet received any formal notification from the Medical Council regarding the pending investigation.
He stopped short of “suspecting” the issue was tantamount to pressure him not to start a new political party, which the former Nationalist MP is believed to be considering.
Asked if he suspected that he is being “victimised” because of his political plans, Muscat replied: “God forbid we have come to this, but in so far I don’t have reason to suspect this”.
The controversy over the TV programme, presented by Joe Chetcuti, was immediately discussed at PBS together with the Medical Council, who in turn are still deciding on the matter.
When contacted and asked about what measures could be taken against a doctor or medical professional found guilty of breaching the code of ethics, Paula Casha, registrar at the Medical Council explained that according to the law regulating the healthcare professions, a number of measures may be taken if the professional is found guilty of misconduct.
The measures vary from erasing the doctor’s name from the medical register, and where appropriate, recommend to the President of Malta that the professional’s license be withdrawn.
His name could be taken off such register for a period of time as the council may determine.
While other measures could be of a financial nature, or a warning, the law provides also for a suspension of license issued by the President of Malta for the practice of a health care professional.
However, the controversy over the television programme does not only stop short on the medical issue, but is also turning out to be a serious administrative issue for PBS after being contacted by NET television head Louiselle Vassallo, informing the board that footage used during the programme was shot by her crew.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Louiselle Vassallo explained that the station has informed PBS that it is currently reviewing all tapes relating to the filming of an operation performed at the same hospital and on the same patient by its crew.
She added that the station was in discussions with presenter Joseph Chetcuti for a programme this season, and actually deployed a camera crew to film the operation.
“We have lodged a verbal copyright complaint with PBS and do not exclude taking legal action if it turns out that some of the footage used is ours,” she said.
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