Shadow Health Minister Zane DeSilva called on Government to tell the country what lies ahead with medical pre-certification, which he branded a One Bermuda Alliance cost-cutting measure that would harm vulnerable patients.

The initiative would require physicians to get a second opinion before ordering high-cost diagnostic testing and lab work for their clients — but the Ministry of Health has released little by way of specifics, such as the means by which doctors’ decisions would be vetted.

“I implore the current Minister to inform the people of this country what is plan is, and what the OBA plan is, to with pre-certification,” Mr DeSilva told the House of Assembly last night.

Invoking the phrase “death by delay”, the Shadow Minister said pre-certification would force a doctor to call a 1-800 number instead of ordering a C-scan or MRI for a patient suffering potentially dangerous headaches.

Former Health Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, who was succeeded by the current Minister Trevor Moniz, interjected: “Rubbish.”

Mr DeSilva responded: “Well, will they please inform this House and the people of Bermuda what they are planning?”

He added: “If this legislation is brought this House, and this policy becomes law, who is going to accept responsibility for a patient’s death?”

The Southampton East MP also referred to a January 28 article in The Royal Gazette in which physicians attacked pre-certification.

“They were asking these same questions. It’s now March, and I haven’t seen any answers.”