Medical Appeals Tribunal overturns suspension of Neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter

The Medical Appeals Tribunal has overturned the suspension of Neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter just under a year after it was imposed by the Medical Council of Jamaica in May 2025.

The three-member panel of Ambassador Kathryn Phipps, Dr Norda Clare-Pascoe, and Chantal Simpson ordered that Hunter’s practising certificate be restored.

The ruling was handed down on Wednesday.

It follows submissions by Hunter’s attorney, Hugh Wildman, and attorney for the Medical Council, Ransford Braham K.C.

The Medical Council, through Braham, conceded that the appeal should be allowed but requested that the disciplinary proceedings be retried.

Relying on Section 13 of the Medical Act, Braham asked the tribunal to exercise its discretion to direct that the original disciplinary proceedings be "reconducted" by the medical council.

However, Wildman rejected the proposal for a rehearing, arguing that the only just outcome would be to “set aside the decision of the council” entirely.

Wildman further argued that the council had already shown “wanton and callous disregard” for Hunter’s right to due process.

He said his client had already served nearly the entirety of his suspension, and that forcing him to face the same body that originally found him guilty “behind his back” would constitute a “classic case of abuse of process”.

The medical council had accused Hunter of professional misconduct when it suspended his licence.

“When he came to me and I found out what had happened, I immediately filed an appeal on his behalf because I thought that the appeal was a clear case of success. They had no choice,” Wildman told The Gleaner.

- Kimone Francis

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