Gavrankapetanović: We demand that mobbing, harassment, and humiliation of doctors be stopped

Regarding the crisis at KCUS, a press conference was held today in Veliki park in Sarajevo, attended by a large number of citizens, reports the Patria News Agency.

Doctors from this clinic spoke today about the current situation and the state of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, as well as the damage being done to patients and the pressure exerted by the management of the Clinical Center on surgeons and other employees: Prof. Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, Prof. Dr. Mirza Biščević, Prim. Mr. Sci. Med. Dr. Senad Maksić, Prim. Mr. Sci. Med. Dr. Semin Bećirbegović, and Dr. Hasan Tanović.

- As you can see, the working conditions are not ideal, but we decided on this location because, as you know, we have problems, or rather, journalists have problems with reporting, as some have been expelled from the Clinical Center, denied access, so we decided to do it here today – said Ismet Gavrankapetanović's lawyer, Senad Pećanin, at the beginning of the conference.  

- Therefore, the reason for the address by a group of distinguished KCUS doctors is the situation at KCUS, the concern that due to the current management of KCUS, patients are suffering the most and are being greatly harmed, and on the other hand, immense pressure is being exerted on the employees of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, the most prominent doctors and employees – added Pećanin.

Doctor Ismet Gavrankapetanović explained why the doctors decided to take this step.

- We are not writing open letters, we are not slandering anyone, we are not insulting, we are not humiliating, we do not want to be anyone's boss, we are only defending ourselves against false constructions and fabricated lies. It all started the moment I said what I needed to say in a humane and friendly way to those who manage the Clinical Center. After that, retaliation followed, two colleagues present here informed me that I had been dismissed. The dismissal is absolutely not in question, and I have said a thousand times that I do not want the position of head, but two sentences were interesting. That they were tasked with writing an indictment against me with the aim of tarnishing the name of Ismet Gavrankapetanović and extinguishing the memory of an honorable life I have spent these 31 years doing this job.

Gavrankapetanović thanked those present for coming to show their support.

- Given that we experienced a series of insults through various open letters before and during Bajram, we decided to stand here publicly. We take this opportunity to address the public with the request to stop the mobbing, harassment, humiliation, and searching of personal belongings by the KCUS management. We ask you to convey our warning that we are no longer able to work under this pressure and in these conditions. I am speaking on behalf of the surgeons present here, our patients whom we need to treat.

After leaving the operating room on Thursday, I was met with the sight of my personal belongings being searched in my locker by my younger colleague, who was forced to do it, and I know that he personally finds it disgusting. Imagine the pressure that young colleague is under. We demand protection from the pressure on our colleagues who do not have the strength like us to resist it publicly. Therefore, I propose that we call today's press conference "What is character?" as a lesson for future generations so that no one ever experiences what this generation of surgeons has experienced again.

On August 3rd of this year, the president of the KCUS Management Board, also a co-owner of a chain of pharmacies in the city, threatened surgeons at a morning meeting with criminal charges and prosecution simply because they had an opinion and wrote it down on paper. I call on Prime Minister Novalić, who appointed this Management Board, to dismiss this Management Board and revoke the shameful decision that will remain a disgrace in the history of surgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Doctor Gavrankapetanović.

Prim. Dr. Senad Maksić pointed out that dismissals are a normal occurrence, but their manner is concerning.

- Dismissals happen, and it would be good if they happened more often, but they should be done in a humane way and in the most appropriate places and environment. That is the Collegium of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology. All of us have been dismissed from our previous positions, and that is quite normal. But the manner is not appropriate. As people of character, we refused to be executors of dismissals, to write an indictment that does not exist, and that is why we are being punished. Perhaps, if we were silent accomplices, our future would be bright, but I don't know if any of us can stomach it anymore.

It was not the dismissal of Prof. Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović that caused our reaction, but the raw force and uncontrolled political power. It is about uncontrolled political power and brutal force. Quality and references no longer seem to matter to us. By remaining silent and inactive, we do not want to be accomplices in a crime, we do not want to be silent observers of a totalitarian environment. We are fighting for our basic human rights and freedoms to express what might be uncomfortable for someone. We have no political power or machinery behind us, but quality, expertise, and Bosnian patriotism. If we are persecuted or threatened in any way due to public opinion, then that is something else entirely, then we are all in trouble. We should not blame government or non-governmental organizations, nor the management, then we are all to blame and it is all up to us – stated Doctor Maksić.

Doctor Mirza Biščević said that they did not gather to lament their positions but to warn about the situation at KCUS.

- It's not about any money. Such an address creates bigger problems for us. However, as people of character, we want to express our opinion. What every citizen should ask themselves is how easily we give up our best people. It's a bit awkward to talk about the group I belong to, but I will tell you that these five perform the most difficult surgeries at the Orthopedics Clinic at KCUS, the other 13 colleagues know best how much they will miss us. What you saw in that letter is not their opinion, they apologize to us. They are given the same kind of papers as we were, but they did not have the courage to show their true human face, which they certainly have.

The statistical data that a competition was announced for the admission of 19 specialists at KCUS speaks volumes about everything. Ten people applied, and ten were admitted. These are people from smaller towns in our country. They are in their fifties. If it were normal times, at least 60 or 70 people would have applied for this competition – said Biščević.

Prim. Dr. Semin Bećirbegović recounted an experience from his on-call duty that, as he stated, best illustrates the situation at KCUS.

- I was on call, it was Sunday, I remember well. There were five seriously ill patients in the intensive care unit. It is practice when we take over the on-call duty to do a ward round. When I asked the nurse to get the test results for those patients, she said we only had them for one patient. You can imagine what that means. It meant I had to flip a coin for 24 hours. I prayed to God that I wouldn't have to make a decision I would regret my whole life, and that is having to choose between two patients. Thank God, I saw the morning. I am still an employee of the Clinical Center, and we'll see until when – stated Doctor Bećirbegović.

Dr. Hasan Tanović said that at one point he wondered if he was living in Bosnia and Herzegovina or in South Africa during apartheid.

- At one point, I was taken aback and wondered if I was living in South Africa during apartheid or in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which we fought and were ready to give our lives. We fought in the war for the freedom of this city and our country. But when I see citizens and the media, hope awakens in me that we deserve better – said Tanović.  

- We need to close ranks and publicly say what we think, not limit ourselves to writing on social networks, but fight in our micro-environments and thus create a critical mass that will ensure that we and our children live in a better country. The situation in which we live and work today is such that it is very difficult to come to work, work with patients, and enter operating rooms. The pressures force us to think about every move and every written finding. The management of KCUS and those in power should create an atmosphere where people live, work, and give their best in their jobs, not create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty – emphasized Tanović.