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Committee holds confirmation hearing for Dr. Annie Bridal for Guam Board of Medical Examiners
Summary
The Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs heard testimony supporting the governor's nomination of Dr. Annie Bridal to the Guam Board of Medical Examiners; Dr. Bridal cited limited resources, quorum shortages, and procurement rules as factors slowing complaint resolution and said she would take on longstanding "cold cases."
The Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs held a confirmation hearing Jan. 16 for Dr. Annie Bridal, the governor's nominee to serve as the physician representative on the Guam Board of Medical Examiners.
Dr. Bridal presented herself to the committee and described a decades-long practice in OB/GYN. She told senators that filling vacant board seats and securing outside expertise — including attorneys and clinical specialists — are essential to resolving complaint backlogs more promptly. "We need the resources to be able to do the types of investigations that have to be done," she said, describing procurement and limited specialist availability as persistent obstacles.
The Bureau of Women's Affairs director, Jane Flores, testified in support of the nomination, noting Dr. Bridal's more than 20 years as an OB/GYN, her role founding Sagwa Manyagu (described in testimony as Guam's first birthing center), and the nominee's potential contribution to addressing local shortages of OB/GYN providers and high maternal and infant mortality rates.
Senators pressed Dr. Bridal on the public perception that many complaints to the board have lingered without resolution. She acknowledged the perception but said that many malpractice claims are legally and technically complex, sometimes take years to resolve in court, and often require specialty review that is difficult to secure in a small jurisdiction. "Half of the cases, we have a conflict, so half of the people can't participate," she said, describing limits on specialty expertise among board members.
On the question of conflicts of interest, Dr. Bridal recommended recruiting off-island reviewers where appropriate and argued the board should have clearer budgetary control so it can timely procure necessary expertise. She also volunteered to take on long-pending cases, telling senators, "I'll be the cold case," and said she would work to get backlog matters reviewed and resolved as expeditiously as possible.
Senators who questioned the nominee expressed support for her nomination and emphasized expectations that the board improve transparency and timeliness. No formal confirmation vote was taken during the Jan. 16 hearing; the committee said it would work to place the confirmation on a future session agenda for further action.
The committee recessed the confirmation hearing and proceeded to a public hearing on Bill 219-38 COR later in the same session.
