Orthopedists and Traumatologists from across BiH Express Support for Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović

The Association of Orthopedists and Traumatologists of BiH has sent a letter of support to Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović following his recent removal as head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology of the University Clinical Center of Sarajevo (UKCS), writes the Patria agency.

From the association, they emphasized that the poor condition in the clinic cannot be improved without the participation of the Clinic's professional board.

- In practice and in hospital statutes, the professional board is the most competent to assess the quality of each proposed candidate and proposal related to the clinic's organization. Therefore, the opinion of the majority of board members should be respected, and pressure should never be exerted on them. For this reason, the reaction of the Board of Directors to the letter in which a certain number of colleagues from the Orthopedics Clinic express their opinion by giving support to Professor Gavrankapetanović is surprising.

The profession and doctors should not be denied the right to express their opinion, especially when it comes to such crucial issues that are important for the functioning of such a significant institution. It would be very good and important for our profession for this situation to be resolved as soon as possible, as well as the pressure on colleagues from the Orthopedics Clinic, because we all suffer damage in the public eye because of it.

There are only four full professors of orthopedics, and Gavrankapetanović is one of them. He has trained and educated dozens of young orthopedists, masters, and doctors of science, and his professional and scientific weight is genuine, known, and unquestionable. Through his work, he has greatly contributed to the development of UKCS and the regional and European promotion of this institution.

No one should bear the consequences, least of all the people who, together with Gavrankapetanović, built the Clinic and today do a professional and conscientious job – states the letter of support for Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović.