It merits noting here that the Dr. Colaco in this 'contra tu' with Valmiki Faleiro (VF), is Dr. Francisco Colaco (FC), Goa's leading cardiologist and not simple me (jc).
Ab inicio, allow me to state that I have nothing but the deepest of regards and respect for these fine gentlemen. My personal respect for FC, VF and everyone else on Goanet having been acknowledged, I have never hesitated to say my piece. It has never been my technique to sit on any fence. Sometimes I have been right, at other times, NOT. If 'we' remember ......on a number of occasions, I have vehemently objected to the public disclosure of medical information of others. One such case was that of a Goan athlete who committed suicide in 2001. I was shocked that the post-mortem details of this hapless individual were splashed on Goanet and on Rediff (Sandesh Prabhudesai). I also remember the defence put up by a number of prominent Goanetters stating the public's Right to Know. Nonsense ! And then, I had the good fortune to study for the LLB (Hons) and the LLM (Medical Law) from the UK. Now, I understand even more keenly WHY another person's private medical history is NONE of our business and WHY it is protected even in death (with some exclusion clauses). Physicians like FC, me and others are expected to maintain an even higher level of confidentiality when it comes to patient information than the 'man on the Clapham omnibus'...or Betul to Margao express Many countries have very strong Data Protection statutes. The US has a very stringent HIPAA Act. Physicians and other health professionals are liable for severe actions for violations, also because their WORDS are believed. Dr. Francisco Colaco makes a very important point - (and I paraphrase) that ALL of us make mistakes and that None of us are perfect: " "let him who has no sin cast the first stoneā. My position is this: I do not hold myself responsible for the actions etc of Nehru, Salazar, Sambhaji, Churchill, Tipu, Bandodkar or even my own forebears or other relatives. They did what they did.....and there is nothing any of us can do about the past except learn from it AND endeavour tonever repeat the mistakes of others or ours. jc ps: I do not mind discussing what I have written above via private email. BUT........I am done with this topic on Goanet.