GNOC's choice of doctors questioned

Guam - The Guam Medical Association is calling out the Guam National Olympic Committee and a decision by its president to select a physician for Team Guam, which they believe does not meet the qualifications to practice at the Olympic level.

Acting Guam Medical Association president Dr. Chris Bieling is taking issue with the GNOC's decision to select a doctor from the Philippines as Team Guam's official physician instead of a local physician. Dr. Jose Raul Canlas from St. Luke's Hospital in the Philippines has more than three decades of experience in orthopedics and sports medicine, but his impressive background isn't enough for the GMA, which contends Guam has more than enough qualified physicians that can provide for the healthcare needs of Team Guam in the summer games in London.

The GMA argues that like U.S. athletes competing for Team USA, U.S. Olympic physicians must provide meaningful service to the U.S. Olympic effort. Moreover Dr. Beiling writes because Guam is a member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees and the Philippines is not, a local Guam physician would be more appropriately selection.

Responding long distance on personal leave in Portland, Oregon GNOC president Rick Blas says it's unfortunate that certain doctors have decided to take center stage over Guam's athletes heading to the London Olympic games.

"Guam's contingent is about Guam's athletes and NOT about doctors! GNOC underwrites it's program and therefore, GNOC decides the make up of its delegation," Blas wrote (read the full version here).

Blas added that as far as he's aware no Guam doctor stepped forward expressing an interest to assist Team Guam in London prior to deadline to submit documents for accreditation, which was back in December. Blas added though Team Guam is bringing a medical officer and that is former Guam National Men's Basketball Team, member physiotherapist Chris Fernandez, who Blas states is certainly a member of our Guam community.

Blas says "that since the death of Dr. Pat Sagisi, who was active with the GNOC Medical Commission no local physician has been as committed as he, We hope that one day someone, who is not just interested in the Olympic Games, will step up to the plate and contribute his or her time in the way that Dr. Sagisi contributed to Team Guam. Why the complaint now? One can only wonder, it is after all another Olympic year!"

Blas added that's he not worried about the healthcare of Guam's athletes at the Olympic Games, because they will be receiving the best medical care including dentistry and optometry care. In addition, Oceania provides a team of physicians, which GNOC will have on board to provide medical support to all our athletes, which includes Guam.

Local chiropractor Dr. Dennis Borja has also added his comments to the debate. He has written a letter of protest to Philippine Consul General Bayani Mangibin regarding the GNOC's selection of Dr. Canlas. Like the GMA, Dr. Borja points out that he is not a U.S. citizen and is not licensed to practice medicine by the Government of Guam. He added that although he may be a competent doctor. He is asking the consul general to request the government of the Philippines advise its citizen, in this case Dr. Canlas, to respect the sovereignty of Guam medical professionals and immediately withdraw his participation as a member of the GNOC medical team.

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