Children’s cancer charity denies allegations of malpractice inside Rainbow Ward

Children's cancer charity Puttinu Cares Foundation has denied reports in The Malta Independent in which the parents of a patient alleged that the NGO was hiving off donations and soliciting funds at the expense of patients not cared for by the NGO.

The foundation, a registered NGO, said it  "categorically rejected" claims that it had misappropriated funds that were raised for a family. "Puttinu Cares keeps a detailed record of all funds received and all expenses. These are annually audited and forwarded to the Commissioner of NGOs for public view," president Dr Victor Calvagna, said in a statement.

The allegations were reportedly made to the police, the Medical Council, the Council for Nurses and Midwives, and the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, on malpractice at the Rainbow Ward paediatric cancer unit.

In a report presented under oath to Mater Dei Hospital's legal counsel and chief executive Joseph Caruana, parents Anthony Catania and Marion Cutajar said nurses and a consultant oncologist - respectively members and the chairman of the Puttinu Cares Foundation - were responsible for clinical malpractice at the expense of their son.

Dr Victoria Calvagna is the chairman of the foundation, while Angele Cuschieri, is the Rainbow Ward's deputy nursing officer, and assistant treasurer Mary Rose Bugeja and PRO Rennie Zerafa are also nurses at the ward: according to the Catanias - whose son was in hospital for chemotherapy for 17 days - the nurses in question approached them soliciting their services, claiming that other nurses unaffiliated with the foundation did not carry out their duties properly.

Later, when a fund-raising activity for their son raised over €2,000, nurse Rennie Zerafa asked that the family close down the Facbeook page that promoted the fund-raiser, ostensibly because this was harming the efforts of Puttinu Cares and other patients. When the parents met Zerafa and other members of the foundation to carry out a joint fund-raiser, the same foundation members suggested that they donate €6,000 to another family whose son was also receiving treatment for cancer.

Calvagna said the foundation was taking the allegations very seriously, but said that it was not aware of these allegations before they were published in the Malta Independent on Sunday, neither was the foundation contacted for comment. "We find it very unethical to have learnt of the allegations through the media. This is a deliberate breach of our fundamental human rights," the foundation claimed.

Calvagna said the NGO was considering legal action on the allegation. "Puttinu Cares strives to help out in all ways possible all those individuals who in one way or another need the Foundation's support.  Unlike what has been alleged in the article, this support, as has always been the case, is given to everyone unconditionally and without any bias. This shall remain the main aim of the foundation."