Although Puerto Rico is a small island, a scandal involving the territory has made headlines worldwide.
Puerto Rican doctors traveled to Haiti to help victims of the earthquake. Very controversial Facebook photos soon surfaced. Doctors drinking, holding firearms, smiling while working on patients, among other things, circulated the internet and made the front page of several newspapers.
Puerto Rico's most popular newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, wrote, "The doctors could be suspended and even lose their licenses," because of their behavior in Haiti.
Many are outraged and indignant toward the doctors involved. Others stand firm and say the photos do not overshadow their good deeds. Enid Garcia, one of the accompanying doctors from the first group stated: "What they did during their time of leisure is their responsibility..." She then concluded that their work in Haiti was excellent and they saved many lives.
Doctor Vincent Bonilla, who is 28 years old and a recent graduate from medical school, stated his naivety caused him to act immaturely and tainted the image of his colleagues.
Must we condone such immature actions? I don't think we should. Must we obliterate the work they performed because of this scandal? Again, I don't think we should.
Public humilliation and global embarrassment is punishment enough.
Then again, "no good deed goes unpunished."
What do you think?