LBJ does not intend to take legal actions against the suspended CMO

The LBJ hospital has no intention to take legal action against the suspended Chief Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Shumway, for making defamatory statements against the hospital and the Department of Health, such as the recent measles outbreak is a fake.

According to Dr Ledua, before departing American Samoa, Dr Shumway was willing to publicly apologise for his comment, citing that it was a misstatement.

"I am not aware of anything like that, and I don't believe we will be taking any legal action against Dr Shumway," said Dr Ledua.

Since Shumway's suspension, the hospital has appointed Dr Aitofele James Sunia, Acting CMO.

Last week the Department of Health issued a statement outlining a comprehensive report and timeline of when the LBJ laboratory confirmed the measles case in April.

Director Motusa Tuileama Nua said throughout the outbreak, there were two confirmed measles cases and 82 probable cases identified syndromically, with ages ranging from 2 months to 13 years old.

He said the Department of Health wants to unequivocally state that the measles outbreak declaration was in no way a failed strategy or an attempt to obtain funding from the federal government deceptively.