D C—34 C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE PUZZLES Being contrite

DOHA 23°C—34°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Monday, April 3, 2017Rajab 6, 1438 AH

CommunityStudents from Doha College are

celebrating after securing two wins at the Qatar Foundation GMC Triathlon Series.

P6 P16 CommunitySpeakers highlight challenges

and tell inspiring stories at event to spread awareness about disabilities.

Being contriteTwo words can soothe

patients who have

been harmed: We’re

sorry. P4-5

COVERSTORY

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

Monday, April 3, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Get OutDIRECTION: Jordan PeeleWRITTEN BY: Jordan PeeleCAST: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford,

Caleb Landry JonesSYNOPSIS: A young man named Chris (Daniel Kaluuya)

is preparing to meet his girlfriend Rose’s (Allison Williams) parents for the fi rst time. However, he is sceptical of the introduction because Rose, who’s white, hasn’t told her parents that he is black. While she sees no importance in the

colour of his skin, he knows it’s going to be an issue. Now that Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At fi rst, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behaviour as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.

THEATRES: Mall Of Qatar, The Pearl, City Centre

ChipsDIRECTION: Dax ShepardWRITTEN BY: Dax ShepardCAST: Dax Shepard, Michael Peña, Vincent D’Onofrio,

Adam Brody, Rosa SalazarSYNOPSIS: Two middle-aged California Highway Patrol

motorcycle offi cers soon fi nd themselves in a situation like none other when they get caught up in uncovering a corrupt cop within their own department. Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello have just joined the California Highway

Patrol in Los Angeles, but for very diff erent reasons. Baker is a former motorbike rider who’s trying to put his life and marriage back together. Poncherello is a cocky, undercover FBI agent who’s investigating a multimillion-dollar heist that may be an inside job. Forced to work together, the inexperienced rookie and hardened veteran begin clashing instead of clicking while trying to nab the bad guys.

THEATRES: Novo Cinema-Mall of Qatar, The Pearl, City Center

Mall Cinema (1): Naam Shabana (Hindi) 2:30pm; Honey Bee 2 (Malayalam) 5pm; Beauty & The Beast (2D) 7:30pm; Killing Ground (2D) 9:30pm; Naam Shabana (Hindi) 11:15pm.Mall Cinema (2): Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 2:15pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 3:45pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 5:30pm; Chips (2D) 7:15pm; 30 Days Of 3izz (Arabic) 9pm; Get Out (2D) 11pm.Mall Cinema (3): NORTHERN LIGHTS: A Journey to Love (Tagalog) 2:30pm; Guru (Telugu) 4:30pm; Ezra (Malayalam) 7pm; Daylight’s End (2D) 9:30pm; Dora (Tamil) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Honey Bee 2 (Malayalam) 2:30pm; 30 Days Of 3izz (Arabic) 5pm; Daylight’s End (2D) 7pm; Get Out (2D) 9pm; Killing

Ground (2D) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 2:30pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 4pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 5:45pm; Power Rangers (2D) 7pm; Beauty & The Beast (2D) 9:15pm; Chips (2D) 11:30pmLandmark Cinema (3): NORTHERN LIGHTS: A Journey to Love (Tagalog) 2:15pm; Chips (2D) 4:15pm; Ezra (Malayalam) 6pm; Guru (Telugu) 8:30pm; Kavan (Tamil) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 2:30pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village (2D) 4:15pm; Smurfs: The Lost Village

(2D) 6pm; Chip (2D) 7:45pm; Killing Ground (2D) 9:30pm; Daylight’s End (2D) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Beauty & The Beast (2D) 2pm; Power Rangers (2D) 4:15pm; Beauty & The Beast (2D) 6:30pm; Ezra (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Kavan (Tamil) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): NORTHERN LIGHTS: A Journey to Love (Tagalog) 2:30pm; Chips (2D) 5pm; 30 Days Of 3izz (Arabic) 6:45pm; Honey Bee 2 (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Get Out (2D) 11pm.Asian Town Cinema: Honey Bee 2 (Malayalam) 6, 8:45 & 11:30pm; Kavan (Tamil) 12:30 & 6:15pm; Dora (Tamil) 3:30 & 11pm; Naam Shabana (Hindi) 6 & 11:30pm; Ezra (Malayalam) 3:15, 6, 8:45 & 11:30pm.

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.08amShorooq (sunrise) 5.24amZuhr (noon) 11.37amAsr (afternoon) 3.06pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.53pmIsha (night) 7.23pm

Science investigates; religion

interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

EVENTS

To green or not to green WHEN: April 5WHERE: Doha English Speaking SchoolTIME: 7pmThe Qatar Natural History Group, for its

April talk, will host a panel discussion on the sustainability aspects of turning urban areas in hot, arid climates into green oases.

As research data are accumulating on the vital benefi ts that urban ecology contributes to human health and the implementation of the Master Urban Plan for Doha approaches, lively discussions are taking place on the future of urban ecology in Doha and other urban areas of Qatar. What should urban landscapes look like and how can they be designed sustainably? The panel team of experts in the fi elds of sustainability, ecology, landscape architecture and

urban planning will present the overarching idea of ecology in cities and how it can be designed to incorporate plants which are adapted to arid climates, support a rich diversity of wildlife, and have a strong cultural signifi cance.

Foodex QatarWHEN: Until tomorrowWHERE: Doha Exhibition and Convention

CenterTIME: 10am onwardsFOODEX Qatar will strengthen the Qatari

food industry to meet the standards of rising expatriate population, tourism, and developing tastes of Western foods. It will help to open new vistas for international food and beverage entrepreneurs to foray into the emerging markets of Qatar and to provide an excellent platform for food and drink manufacturers as well as processing technology companies to market and promote their products, technology and services.

Forever Eagles Tribute ShowWHEN: April 6WHERE: Giwana Ballroom, Radisson BluTIME: 7:30pmA spectacular stage performance of the

Eagles chart-topping hits including Take it Easy, One of These Nights, New Kid in Town, Life in the Fast Lane, Desperado along with the mega-hit Hotel California and many more! Doors open 7:30pm at QR390 per person, including international gourmet buff et and selected beverages. Qatari ID required. For tickets and reservations please call 44281555.

Chess TournamentWHEN: April 7WHERE: MES Indian SchoolThanniyam Grama Panchayat

Peringottukara Association (TGPA) will be holding its third open rapid chess tournament on April 7 at the MES Indian School.

The tournament is open to all nationalities living in Qatar. Participants will be segregated into four categories, based on their ages. Winners and runners-up of each category will be awarded with cash prizes and trophies. All participants will walk away with a certifi cate. Last date for registration is on April 6.

The fi nal fi xtures of the tournament will be displayed at the venue on April 7 at 7:30am.

For more information, please call 55426392 or 77695910.

Aqua Park 2017 Season WHEN: Until AugustWHERE: Aqua ParkThe Aqua Park 2017 season is fi nally here

and is happening with a big bang and splash. Aqua Park Qatar is the premiere and still the leading theme park in Qatar, “the theatre of all aquatic fantasies where the thrills and spills are a knock-off , where families and friends, work colleagues and business partners cool off and the appellations go on and on.”

Metal, gems & pearls art exhibition

WHEN: Until April 14WHERE: Building 18, Gallery 2, Katara

Cultural VillageArtistic metal panels exhibited by Patric

Rozario are bespoke metal coverings conceived and created to lavishly decorate interiors and to rejuvenate the concept of “Living Well”. These artistic metal panels have brilliant designs, beauty, colour and versatility that grow to encompass the ceaseless demands of clever, insightful and imaginative interior designers, fi t-out consultants and architects. What impresses these professionals is the unparalleled freedom to create the most astonishing and beautiful visuals with huge practical potential in any working, living and entertaining environments.

Hasya Kavi SammelanWHEN: April 7 WHERE: DPS Auditorium, Al WakraNorth Indians’ Association (NIA) is

organising an evening full of laughter in a grand show titled “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” on April 7 (Friday) at the DPS Auditorium in Al Wakrah.

Hasya Kavi Sammelan is a very popular form of healthy entertainment. Five well-known poets from across India will perform in a four hours long programme that the organisers promise to be full of humour and laughter. Star attraction of the event is Padma Shree Ashok Chakradhar, who will anchor the programme. The four poets are: Aashkaran Atal, Arun Gemini, Mamta Sharma and Sudeep Bhola.

Entry to the event is with prior registration and those interested may contact the organisers at 3383-0289 or [email protected]

FIFTY/FIFTY Concert WHEN: April 8 WHERE: German International School

DohaTIME: 7:30pm to 9pmThe famous German Magdeburg

Knabenchor Choir Concert will perform at the German International School Doha

on April 8. The event is being presented by Doha Youth and Junior Choir as part of the Qatar-German 2017 Year of Culture. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact the organisers at [email protected]. Tickets available through q-tickets.com.

Painting WorkshopWHEN: April 8 and 15WHERE: ICC Ashoka HallIndian Cultural Centre (ICC) is organising

an interactive painting workshop in association with Camlin for art loving students of Indian schools at its Ashoka Hall on April 8 and 15.

This workshop will focus on landscape painting and portrait drawing on both the dates under the guidance of two prominent Indian painters based in Doha. It is a 3-hour-long workshop. The workshop will conclude with an exhibition of the artwork done by the participating students followed by distribution of Appreciation Certifi cates on April 15. The ICC management committee has said that the workshop is being conducted for a limited number of selected students from Indian schools. For enquiries, call 44968607.

8th Qatar International Food FestivalWHEN: Until April 8LOCATION: Hotel Park, CornicheThe 8th annual Qatar International

Food Festival will be at the Hotel Park on Corniche from March 29 to April 8. QIFF is a multicultural festival that celebrates the country’s diverse food, beverage and hospitality off erings. The annual event forms part of Qatar’s strategy to grow and diversify its tourism off erings in partnership with the private sector.

This year’s festival will stretch beyond the usual week-long period to off er residents and visitors a

fl avourful spring break, where culinary delights of every kind can be enjoyed: from gourmet experiences to authentic local dishes. In 2017, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy QIFF throughout the country with the introduction of the new QIFF Menu. The new QIFF Menu will encourage visitors and residents to enjoy the festival experience at their favourite restaurants and to discover the exciting new culinary delights, which have entered the Qatari food scene since the last edition of the festival. QIFF Menu promises something special for all taste buds.

Stretch, fl ex and embrace #thesweatlifeWHEN: April 8WHERE: MIA ParkTIME: 8:30amTo celebrate the recent launch of lululemon

at the Mall of Qatar, lululemon is inviting the community of Doha to stretch, fl ex and embrace #thesweatlife. Join lululemon and Jawaher al-Fardan at the park of the iconic Museum of Islamic Art, on Saturday, April 8 for a large scale complimentary yoga session and to set their morning intentions, starting spring as they mean to go on! This is one event not to be

missed. The lululemon #sweatlife community workout will include an intention and goal setting introduction by Monia Pyraki, followed by an hour of refreshing and rejuvenating yoga, with lululemon

ambassador and wellness warrior Jawaher alFardan.

Qatar Motor ShowWHEN: April 18-22WHERE: Doha Exhibition & ConventionCenterThe Qatar Motor Show is one of the most

important consumer events in Qatar. It is celebrating its 7th edition with its ‘Driving

to Innovation’ theme that will help bring to enthusiast in Qatar the latest trends and technologies from the global automotive scene. Perceived by brands manufacturers and retailers as the ideal platform to host exclusive regional reveals, the show dates have shifted after the Geneva Motor Show to showcase new models for the fi rst time in the region. The Qatar Motor Show 2017 will include more than 21 brands that will showcase their latest technology, innovation, and performance trends. Exhibiting brands include BAIC, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, Harley Davidson,

Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Maxus, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ram, Titanium and Toyota.

Imperial Threads: Motifs and ArtisansWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: Until November 4This exhibition focuses on the exchange

of artistic and material cultures between the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires. Highlighting MIA’s masterpiece carpets, among other artworks, from Turkey, Iran and India, these objects will be contextualised within the historical circumstances of politics and artistic production of their time, primarily from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Reggae Beachfest DohaWHEN: Thursdays and FridaysWHERE: Oyster Beach Bar at St. Regis

HotelTIME: 8pm onwardsIn collaboration with Reggae Beachfest in

Dubai, Qatar will witness the best rasta nights around. The organisers say, “We’ve got the setup sorted to get you feeling the Caribbean vibe. Along with our resident band Earthkry all the way from Jamaica, we have so many big names in the Reggae scene lined up at this huge beachfest!” Entrance fee is QR50 at the door. For more information, please call 44460105.

Senorita- Ladies NightWHERE: The Club at St. RegisWHEN: TuesdaysTIME: 7pmThe Club at St. Regis promises the ‘fi nest

week-night in town with Cuban and Latin rhythms’. The event starts at 7pm. The dress code is “strictly fabulous-Latin vibe” and there are no entrance fees. For more information, please call 4446-0105.

Dia al-Azzawi: A Retrospective WHERE: Arab Museum of ModernArt and QM Gallery Al RiwaqWHEN: Until April 16Qatar Museums presents a monograph of

one of the most renowned modern artists of the Arab world: Dia al-Azzawi. The exhibition, showcasing over 500 works across fi fty years and a range of media, aims at mapping an itinerary of modernism and profi les the practice of the Iraqi artist. The exhibition is curated by Catherine David, Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

FOODIE CHOICE

RESTAURANT: SalsaLOCATION: Marriott DohaEvery Tuesday… Let’s taco bout it! Come

and try the new Taco promotion every Tuesday at our vibrant Salsa restaurant! Enjoy a selection of beef, chicken, fi sh and vegetarian tacos, served with spicy or non-spicy salsa, traditional guacamole, sour cream, Mexican rice and refried beans!

3Monday, April 3, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The healing touchSpurred by concerns about the “deny and defend” model, programmes to circumvent

litigation by off ering prompt disclosure, apology and compensation for mistakes as an

alternative to malpractice suits are becoming more popular, writes Sandra G Boodman

When Donna Helen Crisp, a 59-year-old nursing professor, entered a North Carolina teaching

hospital for a routine hysterectomy in 2007, she expected to come home the next day.

Instead, Crisp spent weeks in a coma and underwent fi ve surgeries to correct a near-fatal cascade of medical errors that left her with permanent injuries. Desperate for an explanation, Crisp, who is also a lawyer, said she repeatedly encountered a white wall of silence: The hospital and her surgeon refused to say little more than “things didn’t go well.” Crisp spent years piecing together what happened. “I decided I was going to fi nd out even if it takes the rest of my life,” she said.

Jack Gentry said he “went into the hospital a patient and came out a victim.” In 2013, the retired Baltimore police offi cer suff ered a catastrophic spinal cord injury during disk replacement surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital that left him a quadriplegic.

But unlike Crisp, Gentry and his wife, a nurse, were immediately told what had gone wrong by his surgeon, who apologised for the error. The hospital covered Gentry’s rehabilitation and other major expenses and paid an undisclosed amount in compensation, all without litigation.

“When hospitals mess up, they need to do the right thing,” Gentry said. “MedStar did.”

For patients and their families killed or maimed by medical errors, Crisp’s experience — in which doctors clam up and hospitals deny wrongdoing and aggressively defend their care — remains standard operating procedure in most institutions.

But spurred by concerns about the “deny and defend” model — including its cost, lack of transparency and the perpetuation of errors — programmes to circumvent litigation by off ering prompt disclosure, apology and compensation for mistakes as an alternative to malpractice suits are becoming more popular. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore recently estimated that medical mistakes kill 251,000 Americans annually, which would make them the third-leading cause of death. Traditionally, the only way for patients to fi nd out what went wrong has been to sue.

A blueprint for the approach used in Gentry’s case is being

promoted by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Called CANDOR, an acronym for Communication and Optimal Resolution, the approach is modelled on a long-standing programme pioneered at the University of Michigan. It was tested in 14 hospitals around the United States, including MedStar’s Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital.

Although they diff er, these programmes — which typically feature prompt investigation of errors whose fi ndings are shared with the victims, as well as an apology and compensation for injuries — are operating at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Stanford and eight hospitals and outpatient groups in Massachusetts. Despite fears that the new approach would encourage lawsuits, the opposite has proved true. In Michigan, the number of lawsuits was cut nearly in half, and the hospital system saved about $2 million in litigation costs in the fi rst year after the new model was adopted in 2001.

“The whole point of this isn’t to drop malpractice costs, it’s to drive patient safety,” said Richard Boothman, the University of Michigan Health System’s executive director of clinical safety and chief risk offi cer, who launched the programme after a career defending doctors and hospitals. “We need to hard-wire as quickly as possible the lessons of these cases.”

In most hospitals, Boothman said, patient safety experts do not routinely talk to risk managers who handle malpractice claims. As a result, valuable information about preventing errors is lost.

Most patients never learn they are victims of a medical error. A landmark 1991 Harvard study found that only 2 percent of people harmed by errors fi le a lawsuit. Those who do face daunting odds: Patients lose 80 percent of malpractice cases. Huge litigation costs, combined with laws that have reduced damage awards in many states, have left many unable to fi nd an attorney because plaintiff s’ lawyers are paid on contingency. Malpractice cases typically take three or more years to resolve. In the interim, many injured people struggle to pay for care.

Litigation “is a tortuous process for patients and health care workers,” said Beth Daley Ullem, who spent fi ve years seeking answers about the 2003 death of her newborn son from a Chicago hospital that denied any wrongdoing.

DONE IN: Donna Helen Crisp spent weeks in a coma and underwent five surgeries after a near-fatal cascade of medical errors. She has written a book about her experience, Anatomy of Medical Errors: The Patient in Room 2. Being denied the truth left her with “no way to put it into perspective.”

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore recently estimated that medical mistakes kill 251,000 Americans annually, which would make them the third-leading cause of death. Traditionally, the only way for patients to find out what went wrong has been to sue

COMING CLEAN: Pulmonologist Steve Kraman, newly named as chief of staff for what is now the Lexington Veterans Aff airs Medical Center in Kentucky, took a stand for openness, personally telling patients of medical mistakes.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

“We later learned that this had happened to a family before us and another seven months after,” said Daley Ullem, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant whose ruptured uterus went untreated for an hour. She said she received a $4 million settlement before trial, which she off ered to give back to the hospital to fund safety improvements. The hospital refused.

Disclosure eff orts also face stiff resistance from doctors, insurers and lawyers, including defence attorneys for whom speedier resolution means fewer billable hours.

Despite laws in most states that prevent apologies from being used against doctors in lawsuits, many worry that it will make patients more likely to fi le suit, said Thomas Gallagher, a University of Washington professor of medicine who has written extensively about disclosure. A recent study found that 77 percent of 300 primary care doctors would not fully disclose a delayed breast cancer diagnosis to a patient.

Doug Wojcieszak — who founded an Illinois-based disclosure advocacy group called “Sorry Works!” — said one Iowa doctor told him that if he started apologising when things went wrong, “he’d be doing nothing else all day long.”

Insurers are also leery, said Brian Atchinson, president of Physician Insurers Association of America, the trade association for liability insurers, which was involved in the development of CANDOR. “Some states are more conducive to this than others,” he said. “But there are those who don’t believe the benefi ts outweigh the risks.”

Lawyer Joanne Doroshow, director of the Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School, expressed worry that disclosure programmes may take advantage of vulnerable patients who are not represented by a lawyer. “The hospitals are in control of it, and it’s still in their interest to try and limit compensation to patients,” she said.

Jeff rey Catalano, a Massachusetts plaintiff s’ lawyer who is president of the state bar and a participant in that state’s disclosure programme, says that patients should be represented early in the process.

“I think if there’s a good attorney present, there’s no way a client is going to be shortchanged,” he said. “Good attorneys know this: Medical malpractice cases are hard to take to trial. If a client can get $1 now rather than risking getting nothing (at trial) for the prospect of $1.50 later, it may be better to take the $1 now.”

The fi rst US disclosure programme began 30 years ago with a doctor’s desire to do the right thing.

Pulmonologist Steve Kraman, newly named as chief of staff for what is now the Lexington Veterans Aff airs Medical Center in Kentucky, said he faced a problem in 1987: how to handle the death of a middle-aged woman caused by an “undeniable error,” a massive overdose of potassium.

“If we had said nothing, (the family) never would have known a thing,” said Kraman, who was also the hospital’s risk manager. “We never would have gotten sued. But I just didn’t feel that was right.” So

he suggested to the hospital’s lawyer that they come clean to the patient’s two adult daughters, from whom she was estranged.

“I sat down and told them exactly what happened, that we were responsible for it, that they should hire a lawyer and we were going to negotiate a payment,” he recalled. Two months later, the family was paid $250,000.

From then on, Kraman said, all cases involving errors were handled similarly. “We paid out for things that nobody could have sued for in their wildest dreams,” said Kraman, who is now a professor at the University of Kentucky. Some patients declined the cash, he said, because they feared it would “ruin their relationship with the doctor.” Kraman said he refused to pay a dime in cases where no injury could be proved. “That just alienates doctors and nurses who feel like

you’re throwing them under the bus.”Kraman said he had several

advantages: Doctors were employed and insured by the VA system. Payments, which averaged $16,000, were made from the US Treasury, not the hospital coff ers. And the programme had the support of the hospital’s director and lawyer as well as the US attorney for Kentucky.

“This has to be done from the top down” or it won’t work, Kraman said. “The message has to be ‘This is how we do business.’”

When Boothman arrived at the University of Michigan in 2001 — after two decades defending doctors, including an orthopaedic surgeon who had been sued 21 times — he decided to try a similar approach. That included encouraging staff to report errors and bad outcomes; reports jumped from 2,400 a year to more than 34,000.

“You have to normalise honesty,” Boothman said, “to create a culture of continuous improvement.” Applying the lessons gleaned from those errors, he said, has helped make care safer.

“Litigating a case for three years and telling everybody, ‘Don’t talk about it and don’t change anything,’ is immoral and counterproductive,” he added. “I don’t serve my organisation well by defending care we shouldn’t be defending.”

“Today we’re often at the bedside as soon as things happen,” he said. Patients and their families are interviewed as part of the hospital’s investigation of the facts, something that does not happen in traditional litigation.

Like Kraman, Boothman said he worries that some hospitals are using disclosure to cherry-pick small or unwinnable cases, not as a standard approach.

Orthopaedic surgeon P. Justin Tortolani remembers with sickening clarity the moment he realised that a device he was installing had gone too far, penetrating Jack Gentry’s spine. The 60-year-old retired police offi cer, who once had hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, was instantly paralysed from the neck down.

“You can’t really believe it’s happening,” said Tortolani, Union Memorial’s director of spine surgery. Summoning his years of training, the surgeon formulated a plan and steeled himself to tell Teresa Gentry what had happened. It was the fi rst of many conversations about the accident that he would have with the family.

“We didn’t want to go through litigation, we didn’t need to go through litigation,” said Larry Smith, MedStar’s vice president for risk management. MedStar uses CANDOR in about a dozen cases with substantial damages annually.

MedStar executives “told me what had happened, why it happened, that it was directly or indirectly their fault and that whatever I needed I should ask for,” Gentry recalled. MedStar paid for fi ve months of inpatient rehab — Gentry’s insurance would have covered only two weeks — modifi cations to the couple’s home, a $45,000 wheelchair and a new wheelchair-accessible van. It provided a case manager, a home care nurse and $15,000 for incidental medical expenses.

“Because of the nature of Jack’s injury, we would have had to mortgage everything to pay for his care” otherwise, Teresa Gentry said.

Early on, Gentry said, his older brother, a Baltimore malpractice lawyer, expressed baffl ement at MedStar’s approach. “He said as long as we were getting what we needed, to just go with it,” Gentry recalled.

At the end of two years, the case was settled with a confi dential payment negotiated by lawyers for the couple, MedStar and the device manufacturer.

“I felt like it would take care of Jack for the rest of his life,” said Teresa Gentry, adding that the couple had been prepared to fi le a lawsuit if an agreement could not be reached. “Did I get enough to pay for everybody’s pain and suff ering and trauma? No.”

“I was very sceptical in the beginning of this whole process,” she recalled, but she said she believes it has worked well, as does her husband.

Tortolani said he feels “remorse, guilt and sorrow for Jack and his family. This shakes you to your core,” he said. MedStar offi cials have been “unbelievably supportive,” Tortolani said, and he remains deeply grateful to the Gentrys. “My relationship with Jack has never been stronger.”

Donna Helen Crisp says she thinks she would have been less traumatised had the North Carolina hospital and her surgeon not stonewalled her. “I would have been deeply depressed that I had such a bad experience, but I could have moved on with my life,” said Crisp, who has written a book about her experience, Anatomy of Medical Errors: The Patient in Room 2. Being denied the truth left her with “no way to put it into perspective.” — Kaiser Health News

VICTIM OF BAD CALL: Teresa Gentry helps her husband, Jack, stretch out his hands after exercising. He was paralysed during back surgery.

“You have to normalise honesty to create a culture of continuous improvement. Litigating a case for three years and telling everybody, ‘Don’t talk about it and don’t change anything,’ is immoral and counterproductive”

— Richard Boothman, University of

Michigan executive director of clinical

safety


COMMUNITY

Doha College scoops two wins in GMC triathlonS

tudents from Doha College are celebrating after securing two wins at the Qatar Foundation GMC Triathlon Series.

Teams from the primary and secondary elements of Doha College were crowned champions following the completion of the event at Education City. The college’s secondary team also fi nished fi rst in the secondary school team relay category

The triathlon was organised by Qatar Foundation in association with Z Adventures and TriClub Doha.

The event’s primary sponsor and Qatar’s exclusive GMC dealer Mannai Auto Group provided trophies for the winning teams, fi nishers’ shirts and medals for each participant of the event which took place on Friday February 24.

Now in its second year, the triathlon featured two new categories: school and corporate relays. The Corporate Triathlon Championship saw teams of three racing as individuals or as a Team Relay, against teams from other companies and organisations, over the course of 500m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. Teams from Mannai, Doha Bank, Aspetar, Qatar Airways and Doha College also took part.

Another new category was the school triathlon championship, with prizes for the best primary school, secondary school and university.

Students entered as a team relay or as individuals in teams of three or more. Race distances ranged from 100m swim, 3km bike and 1.25km run for children aged 7-9 years old to longer 200m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run for older children. Students aged 16 and above completed the adult course.

Ewan Cameron, race director and representative of Mannai Corporation, commented: “The

response to the GMC Triathlon Series and the new race categories was fantastic from schools through to corporate teams. It brought newcomers to the sport and I hope that it encourages them to get more engaged in the future and improve their fi tness. All the participants went away with a tremendous sense of achievement.”

School Champions:Primary School: Doha CollegeSecondary School: Doha CollegeCorporate Champions: Aspetar

Team Relay Challenge winners: Primary children: Compass International SchoolSecondary children: Doha CollegeUniversity team: Carnegie Mellon UniversityCompany team: DeloitteTeam relay: Team Qatar

The Doha College contingent at the triathlon.

TCA’s spring workshop concludesTCA successfully completed its spring workshop between March 16 and 30. Students participated in and learnt a variety of things, including abacus, calligraphy and painting. They also learnt proper etiquette, including how to address and greet people, how to speak convincingly, dressing for occasions, debating, and stage discipline.

The full list of winners


COMMUNITY

Hundreds attend KSQ picnic at Barzan Olympic ParkHundreds of members of Karnataka Sangha Qatar thronged (KSQ) the Barzan Olympic Park for a picnic recently with their children. KSQ had arranged for a number of games that included nimbu ka funda, cycle tyre race, crawling, sack race, and others. The games were organised separately for men, women and children. The picnic also featured skit presentations and Dumb Charades.

Study finds secondary education critical for modernity

A study has found a “significant relationship between education and total modernity”. As the

level of education rises, modernity of the person in general also goes up. This is true in the case of all dimensions of modernity, except

change proneness, and in all areas of life.

As the development of individual personality is an important concern of education, it is vital to know whether education has contributed to aspects of individual development such as attitudes, behaviour,

values etc. Education and Modernity by

Sabu KC is positioned along these lines. The book is based on a research study set in Cochin Taluk of Kerala covering 700 respondents with diverse levels of education and even no formal education, selected using quota

sampling. This research studied modernity as a Sociopsychological state of the individual, taking into account the effect of given social structures and ongoing processes.

Education, defined in terms of levels of completed formal schooling, is the independent variable in this study. Modernity defined in terms of attitudes, and behaviour and convergence between the two, is the dependent variable. The intervening variables considered are Sex, Marital Status, Religion, Occupation, Income, Type of Schooling, Place of Residence, Migration Status, and Exposure to Mass Media.

The book was released on the occasion of Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Memorial Lecture to celebrate the 46th Founders’ Day of the Institute for Social and Economic Change held at ISEC, Bengaluru in India. The book was released by G Gopakumar, Professor and

Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Kerala. Professor M G Chandrakanth, Director of ISEC received the book. Dr A Ravindra, I.A.S. (Retd.), Chairperson, Board of Governors of ISEC and former chief secretary of Karnataka chaired the programme. Other dignitaries present included Dr K Gayithri, Registrar of ISEC; Prof RS Deshpande, former director of ISEC; and Dr KC Channamma Kambara, assistant professor of ISEC.

Dr Sabu has worked as Lecturer in India and as Assistant Professor of Education in Eritrea. He was the principal of Noble International Indian School in Doha. He has also worked with research and social development projects in different states of India.

Currently he is with Gulf Times in Doha, Qatar. Sabu’s first book, Kendran, won the Kanam EJ Novel Award 2015.

The cover of the book.

The book launch event.


COMMUNITY

FCC honours winners of its Women’s Cultural FestWinners of various competitions held during the Women’s Cultural Fest held to mark the International Women’s Day were honoured at an event by the Friends Cultural Centre (FCC) recently. Winners of the National Sport Day competitions were also honoured at the event that was held at a Qatar Charity auditorium. Cultural programmes presented on the occasion included welcome and Arabic dances. Friends Cultural Centre Executive Director Habeeb Rahman Keezhissery presided over the function. A large number of dignitaries attended. The programme was sponsored mainly by Bradma Group of Companies.

Vanitha Malayalam Toastmaster Club celebrates first anniversaryVanitha Malayalam Toastmaster Club, the first women’s Malayalam Toastmasters club in Doha, celebrated its first anniversary titled Sargavasantham 2017 recently. Friends Cultural Centre Executive Director Habeeb Rahman Keezhissery, Youssouf Vannarath, Hamsas Subair, Pandavath, Philip Cherian, Vanithavedi, Souda Jabbar and others attended. Mementos were presented to the club members who were leaving Qatar for good. The club also switched off lights during the programme for a while to mark Earth Day.

Bangladeshi expats celebrate their Independence and National DayThe Bangladeshi community in Qatar celebrated their 46th Independence and National Day. The function was organised by Bangladesh Awami League-Qatar (BALQ) and featured a discussion about the significance of the day and a cultural programme. The meeting was presided over by BALQ president Shams Uddin Mondol and moderated by general secretary Noor Mohammed Noor. The discussion programme was attended by a number of dignitaries including Mohammed Musa,

a freedom fighter; Jalal Ahmed, ex-president of the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Qatar Chapter; Abul Kashem; Kopil Uddin; Shah Alam; Hazi Basher Sarkar; Muklasur Rahman; Philipes; Sagar Chowdhury; Mohsheen Khan; Mohammed Shafiq; Meraj Ahmed; Shah Alam Maya; Atikul Mowla Mitu; Badrul Islam; Mohiduddin and Moshiur Rahman Mitu.Special prayers were also held for those who lost their lives during the Bangladesh Liberation War and for the peace, progress, and well-being of the people of Bangladesh.


COMMUNITY

Corsica restaurant opened at Concorde Hotel

French ambassador, second right, accompanied by al-Emadi, Najem and al-Refai opening Corsica Restaurant at Concorde Hotel.

Concorde Hotel Doha, one of Qatar’s fi nest hotels, has introduced a new addition to its dining options with

the recently launched Corsica Restaurant, off ering distinguished Italian and French menu.

The restaurant was opened by the Chairman of IBA Group Mohammed Esmail al-Emadi together with French ambassador Eric Chevallier in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador Hassan Najem and Concorde Hotel General Manager Mashhoor al-Rifai.

With the opening of this new restaurant, diners will be able to enjoy the richest and most varied cuisines of Italy and France in an atmosphere that immerses guests in ultimate luxury and comfort. Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, abundance of diff erent fl avours, and known to be one of the most popular cuisines of the world.

Corsica now broadens eating options at Concorde Hotel Doha, featuring dishes with Italian and French fl air. The new restaurant features various kitchens with dishes infl uenced by Italy.

“This is the fi rst restaurant dedicated to Corsica in Qatar

and I am very thankful to the management of Concorde hotel for bringing it into the country. Corsica is a big island in the south of France in the Mediterranean, with beautiful beaches and mountains. The food there is known as one of the best in France because it is very typical and has diff erent components. I am sure many people will come to this restaurant because it is very unique and it brings to Doha a very special taste from a very special part in France,” pointed out the French Ambassador .

Al-Rifai said: “Corsica off ers special fl avours on a diverse menu to encourage diners to sample a range of exotic and delicious dishes. The result is a new modern Italian/ French restaurant exposing even the most seasoned diner to a myriad of new fl avours.”

Corsica will be serving breakfast from 8am to 11am. Guests can enjoy chocolate with waffl e and crepe. Lunch timing will be between 12 noon and 3pm where guests will be off ered an exclusive a la carte menu blended to perfection. Corsica is the right place to grab a Coco Pizza with waffl e and crepe between 3pm and 6pm, in addition to an array of fi ne food items for diners from 7 pm to 1am.

Over a thousand witness two Marathi plays at Qatar Natya MahotsavMaharashtra Mandal Qatar (MMQ) conducted Qatar Natya Mahotsav in Doha recently. The event featured two super hit Marathi plays, “Shanteche Kaarte Chalu Aahe” and “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” consisting of leading Marathi stage and film actors. The event was conducted in the DPS-MIS Wakrah auditorium and was attended by over 1,000 drama enthusiasts. MMQ also felicitated Doha

Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman, who recently received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2017 from the President of India. The event was attended by Hassan Chougule; Captain Ravi Kumar, defence attaché at the Embassy of India; Rajesh Kamble, Counsellor Off icer at the embassy; and many business and social personalities from the Marathi community in Doha.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Today’s Moon shining in your domestic zone suggests that it’s now

or never when it comes to making decisions about real estate and

moving. Are you ready to get serious about where you’ve moving to

or staying in yet?

Don’t allow yourself to become beholden to anyone just now.

Venus retrograding in Pisces could have some of you feeling under

indictment in a way.

Don’t forget who helped you get to where you are today. A small

token of gratitude is always welcome.

There’s a sucker born every minute as they say but you are not one

of them. Let someone else do something silly.

If you don’t think something sounds right or there’s something fishy

about it, ask more questions today. You are allowed to ask as many

questions as you want.

If you feel on edge about something, work out why you feel this way

Leos. It may be something simple and easily fixed. It might require

more man hours and time.

If you feel as if people are talking about you, work out why that is so.

Have you done anything to inspire such talk?

Open your eyes and wake up to what’s really going on today. You are

one of the smartest people you know after all.

If you aren’t sure about something or someone, find out why you

have suspicions and what you can do to appease them today.

Avoid being overly dramatic today Virgos. It’s so unlike you anyway

and it doesn’t help the situation one bit.

There isn’t much room for error today so be extra careful and

practice due diligence.

If you could turn back time, what would you redo Pisces? Think

about that today before making any sudden moves.

With milder temperatures and longer days, it seems as though the last vestiges of winter are behind us. Yet, if you experienced high heating

bills, or drafts and cold spots throughout your home, it could mean your home is not as energy effi cient as it could be. Home improvement experts suggest spring is the ideal time for homeowners to think about investing in projects that boost their home’s energy effi ciency while helping save money each month. With an increasing array of solutions available on the market, homeowners can make informed decisions on which areas of their home are worth the investment. Here are three key home improvement projects homeowners can consider to improve the energy effi ciency and comfort of their home.

Window upgradesYou might not realise it, yet windows can

play a major role in the overall comfort of a home and its occupants. Sealing cracks and gaps around the glass and window frame can make a noticeable diff erence to curbing air

loss, while installing double-glazed windows, originally designed for extreme climates, are an increasingly popular and eff ective way to help minimise air loss and make those wintry drafts a thing of the past.

HVAC equipment upgradesIneffi ciencies in your heating and cooling

equipment could be contributing to your monthly energy bills. 25 percent of a home’s annual bill could be directly connected to ineffi cient HVAC systems. Having a regular

maintenance schedule as well as replacing furnace fi lters can have a positive impact on improving the performance of your heating and cooling equipment. Additionally, over the past decade, advancements in heating and cooling technology have led to manufacturers introducing more energy-effi cient equipment.

Upgrading your attic insulationIt’s commonly understood that heat rises,

and a home’s attic can be one of the leading contributors to air loss. Air leaking from your

home (particularly your attic) cannot only limit the eff ectiveness of your HVAC equipment, it can also lead to drafts and cold spots as well as the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. Gaps or inadequate insulation in your attic could be costing you money each month. Investing in upgrading your attic insulation to a material that provides both insulating value as well as air sealing can help combat air leakage. Spray foam insulation provides both insulating value and air sealing in one step. Growing quickly in popularity among homeowners, spray foam insulation is a high-performance material that delivers year-round energy effi ciency benefi ts. Spray foam insulation, works well in all types of homes across the country, regardless of climate.

Spray foam insulation performs for the life of the property, ensuring that homeowners can enjoy comfortable indoor temperatures all year round without overrunning their heating and cooling equipment. The insulation material helps limit air loss through the attic (as well as wherever else it is applied) to help create a comfortable living space.

©Brandpoint

Three upgrades to help boost your home’s energy eff iciency


COMMUNITY PUZZLES/CARTOONS

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

BASEBINARYCONGRUENCECUBEDECIMALDIVISOREQUATIONFACTOR

FERMATGAUSSINDEXINTEGERLOGARITHMMERSENNEMODULOPERFECT

POWERPRIMEQUOTIENTREALROOTSQUARE

Number Theory

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. Print some more copies of

‘Flee’ (3,3)5. Frustrated, threw something

(6)8. Awaken to find ourselves

surrounded by deer (5)9. Sign made, for instance,

when reversing a car (6)10. Once having concealed the

gun, nullify it (6)11. Board, or fare (3,2)14. Try to alarm one, then, with

‘Tear out the heart!’ (8)16. The rascals return the coats

with a message appended (6)

18. Leaving - nothing to tie the animal to? (7,2,6)

20. Note the girl is negligent (6)22. Fly round and carry out the

transfer (4,4)25. Men with wings! (5)27. Walk or don’t walk on the

street (6)28. The invective when I swap

round! (6)29. Certain Monsieur will be

found in the river (5)30. Mum agrees about their

being drifters (6)31. Rebuke in the nursery (6)

DOWN1. Wish you hadn’t given the

boy the return half (6)2. Call up the key-man (4)3. Just being in a marsh does

alarm one (8)4. Do they fill little holes in the

vegetarian menu? (6,9)5. He’s upset at having

transgressed (6)6. Make for the top (4)7. Is afraid, now the reds are

milling round (6)12. Say it’s yours again and get it

back (7)13. The model’s father: an organ-

grinder (7)15. To accommodate the bend in

the pipe (5)17. Part in harmony, we’re told

(5)19. It’s ominous for the left (8)20. Try to talk out of, with

justification (6)21. Bring home the pressure felt

at work? (6)23. Be irritated by and let fly

again (6)24. Cut the ornamentation (4)26. Wear for Rugby players (4)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Face danger; 6 Slip; 10 Comment; 11 Thieves; 12 Stands out; 13 Earth; 14 Stamp; 15 Sweetpeas; 17 Better off; 20 Price; 21 Ideas; 23 Shadowing; 25 Tambour; 26 Grimace; 27 Dart; 28 Settlement.

Down: 1 Facts; 2 Came apart; 3 Deep depression; 4 Notions; 5 Entitle; 7 Liver; 8 Posthaste;9 Direct opposite; 14 Submitted; 16 Eliminate; 18 Observe; 19 Fraught; 22 Elmer; 24 Great.


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

CRITICISM: Rekha’s abysmal attendance in the Upper House of Parliament continues to draw criticism.

UNDER STRAIN? All may not be well with Ranveer and Deepika.

HELPING OUT: Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif will be acting together in two upcoming movies.

COMPETITION: Toilet – Ek Prem Katha will take on Shah Rukh Khan in August.

No attendance

The only context in which one hears of Rekha nowadays is as her being member of the Upper House of Parliament, for which she had been nominated some years back. Since then she has become famous for not attending the august institution, to the extent that she is now ranked as the worst performing Parliamentarian with just about 5% attendance.

This suddenly became an issue again recently and there was a big hullabaloo. News channels ran shows on it and Rekha, of course, wouldn’t comment. If she had not shown her face in Parliament, there was little chance of her defending her position. It fell upon the lyricist Javed Akhtar to come on television and off er the odd explanation that usually these posts are thrust on celebrities even if they are not interested and relentless pressure forces them to agree to take it up.

That seems like a specious argument. Rekha is after all not a child to not know what being a Parliamentarian entailed. Even if political parties pressurised her, she should have been able to fi gure out that this is not going to be her cup of tea. Or having realised it late, she should have resigned.

Kiron Kher, another Bollywood personality who is an MP, has an outstanding attendance record and she made a similar argument – those who don’t feel up to it, shouldn’t take it up.

Send your feedback [email protected]

Clashing with Shah Rukh KhanN

o fi lmmaker wants his movie’s release to clash with Salman Khan or Aamir Khan but Shah Rukh Khan

seems to be holding little fear for them. Rakesh Roshan refused to change his date of Kaabil – which starred Hrithik Roshan – when Shah Rukh’s Raees suddenly decided to release at the same time.

Roshan didn’t get bruised. Kaabil could have done better if Raees didn’t release but it was still a decent hit. And Raees might have made a little more money than Kaabil but trade pundits called its box offi ce performance average because of the huge cost incurred in making the movie.

With the result of that clash evident, others aren’t giving Shah Rukh movies a solo pass

in a coveted holiday weekend period. Like the Akshay Kumar starrer Toilet – Ek Prem Katha. It was announced recently that the movie would be released on the Independence Day weekend. The only problem: Shah Rukh’s next release, directed by Imtiaz Ali, was already slated to release on the day.

The situation is the reverse of the Kaabil clash when Shah Rukh ambushed the date. One of the persons who took great glee from Akshay doing unto Shah Rukh what he had done to Hrithik was Sanjay Gupta, the director of Kaabil. He tweeted, ‘KARMA, you beauty! I love and believe in you so much. I love how you go after all that f*** with you. KARTAM BHUKTAM on Independence Day.’

And then panicking at unnecessarily picking up a fi ght with a superstar, he deleted his

tweet but not before it had been picked up by scores of Bollywood reporters who keep a hawk’s eye on the tweets of celebrities.

This loss in stature for Shah Rukh because of a protracted run without a huge blockbuster is a testing time. Incidentally, he has just completed 25 years in the industry and for much of that period he was Bollywood’s King Khan without a doubt. He rang in his 25th year with the opening of a new offi ce of a special eff ects division of his company and tweeted, ‘25 yrs in Mumbai, which has given me my life. For the 1st time at the opening of RC vfx new offi ce I felt, I must have done something rite.’ It is probably good that he is diversifying his business interests beyond the usual. The way his career is going he might need it.

Casting together

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif were once in a relationship and now they are not. Salman is said to be dating Iulia Vantur, the Romanian model. Katrina meanwhile is single again after her break up with Ranbir Kapoor.

Salman has been a sheltering ark to most of his former girlfriends and with Katrina’s career too witnessing a number of fl ops, it was no diff erent this time. Salman and Katrina will soon be seen in Tiger Zinda Hai, the sequel to their earlier blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger. That will be a big boost to Katrina’s professional fortunes given that it almost certain to be a huge hit. But that is not all. According to reports, they are now going to be cast together in one more movie. This is said to be a production of Salman’s brother-in-law.

Naturally there is speculation on why these two are coming together in so many upcoming movies? Is this a hint that their relationship may soon resume?

Meanwhile, Salman and his entire family took off to Maldives to celebrate the fi rst birthday of his nephew. And Iulia Vantur also coincidentally put an image of Maldives saying that she was glad to be back. While they have not publicly acknowledged the relationship, it shows Salman and Vantur are going strong.

Split puzzle

Lately, rumours about trouble brewing in the Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh relationship have been recurring with regular frequency. It started when Deepika was out of India for a lengthy period, shooting in Hollywood. And then there was her cosiness with former boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor that, in fact, is said to have cost Ranbir his relationship with Katrina Kaif.

The latest rumour now says that Ranveer and Deepika have split. But then there was an image fl oating around online of the two together. Another strange rumour doing the rounds is that the two have not broken up but are making it look like they are not close anymore. The rumour says that this is at the insistence of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is directing them in the controversy-ridden Padmavati. Since an alleged love angle between the characters they play – Allauddin Khilji and Padmavati – is the reason for repeated attacks on the movie’s shooting by lumpen political elements, it was thought, says the rumour, in the interests of caution that the real life couple should also not been seen together. It sounds too far-fetched to be true but one never knows!

Monday, April 3, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

By Rick Bentley

Danny Boyle had played for years with the idea of making a sequel to his 1996 film Trainspotting. The only way he would tackle it was if he

had the right story and he could get the old gang back together.

Both were a mighty hurdle.Over the past 20-plus years, Ewan

McGregor had become a megastar because of his work in the Star Wars franchise. Both Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle have television series in Elementary and Once Upon a Time. And Ewen Bremner was bouncing between TV appearances and feature films.

Even Boyle had been busy making Oscar-winning films like Slumdog Millionaire and directing the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

And even if he found the time and the right script, there was one other big factor.

“It’s hard making a sequel because the fans can be disappointed very easily,” Boyle says. “People have had such a long lasting affection for Trainspotting. I have made some successful films and unsuccessful ones. They have all faded away.

“This one didn’t.”That was the real motivation for Boyle

to round up the old gang and make T2 Trainspotting. The sequel picks up the

stories of the four roguish mates after two decades.

The only way Boyle was going to make the sequel was if all four of his original leads came back. He knew if he tried to make the film without all four that it would never have a chance of being as beloved as the original film.

Once the four initially agreed to do the project, the actors were given the same financial deal. Boyle was not going to listen to any other agents who wanted more money, better accommodations or billing changes. His thinking was that if all four actors were treated equally and then if one pulled out over a contract dispute, that actor would be the reason for the sequel not being made.

Boyle also made sure that all four got equal treatment when it comes to the script. He was able to make such a commitment because of the acting skills of his cast.

What he gave them to play was a tale of four men who have grown and matured while still holding onto some of the brashness that defined them as young men. Boyle’s plan was to make their stories different enough so T2 Trainspotting would come across as original but still maintain enough of the original colour to please loyal fans.

“Aging is something we all can relate to,” Boyle says. “They spent their 20s not caring about anything, including themselves. Now they have found out time doesn’t care about them.”

Once he had his script and players in place, production went smoothly. He describes the way his actors returned to their roles after more than 20 years as if they were putting on a comfortable overcoat and shoes. The confidence they showed in returning to the roles made Boyle realise that it was the right time to make the sequel.

Any challenge of making the movie was small compared to taking on the task of staging the opening ceremonies for the Olympics in London. His production even included a James Bond takeoff that included Daniel Craig and Queen Elizabeth.

Boyle still has people who tell him that there was no way the real queen would participate in such an event. His response is to tell them that the royal family and all those connected with them were open and a joy with which to work.

The ceremonies were so impressive, Boyle was selected for knighthood. It was an offer he turned down.

“It was just like the T2 principles. It would not have sat comfortably with me, with someone involved with the opening ceremonies being elevated,” Boyle says. “Everyone was going to be treated equally.”

Boyle laughs and says it was almost worth turning down the knighthood to see the reaction from fellow filmmaker Aaron Sorkin. The decline, says Boyle, left Sorkin “discombobulated.” —The Fresno Bee (Fresno, California)/TNS

Joss Whedon to helm a standalone Batgirl film

By Tracy Brown

This is not a drill. Batgirl is getting her own solo movie from Joss Whedon.

The Los Angeles Times has confi rmed that Whedon is closing in on a deal to write, direct and produce

an untitled standalone Batgirl fi lm for Warner Bros. as part of its DC Extended Universe. The news was fi rst reported by Variety.

This would be Batgirl’s very fi rst solo movie, as well as the DCEU’s second fi lm starring a female lead after Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman (which hits theatres June 2).

The most well-known incarnation of Batgirl made her comic book debut in 1967 in The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl! (Detective Comics No. 359) by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino. The story introduced Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon, who just happens to moonlight as the masked crime fi ghter Batgirl.

Batgirl’s comic book debut coincided with her introduction to the iconic 1960s Batman TV series, where she was played by Yvonne Craig, ka-powing alongside Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward).

While various interpretations (and incarnations) of Batgirl have made their marks over the years, the character’s recent resurgence in popularity is linked to 2014’s Batgirl of Burnside comics reboot by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart and Babs Tarr.

Fletcher, Stewart and Tarr’s run of Batgirl saw Barbara Gordon juggling life as a Ph.D student with crime fi ghting. The series was praised for its fun, younger and brighter energy, as well as the character’s new stylish yet functional look. If this is the version of the character that Whedon turns to, the movie could inject some much-needed light into the dark and gritty DCEU.

Fan favourite Whedon, of course, is known for creating Buff y the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefl y and Dollhouse.

This Batgirl movie would mark Whedon jumping from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the DCEU. Whedon directed 2012’s The Avengers and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron as well as helped create the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.

No other producers are currently attached to the Batgirl project, which originated in the last month. Warner Bros. Pictures Group’s chief content offi cer, Toby Emmerich, is overseeing with Jon Berg and Geoff Johns. —Los Angeles Times/TNS

Oh Boyle, the lights, the fights were calling

CANDID: “It’s hard making a sequel,” says Boyle.

NEW AVENUE: Joss Whedon.


COMMUNITY

Spreading awareness about various disabilitiesA gala dinner was hosted at A’La Turkish Cuisine in The Pearl-Qatar to create awareness about various disabilities. The event featured speakers from all over the Middle East region. These speakers were from the disability community and companies that are working with disability communities in the region. They also shared with the attendees stories of inspirational journeys of people with disabilities. They engaged with the participants and discussed ways in which the community can raise awareness about their issues.

Speakers at the event were Ikrami Ahmad, Ari Lahiri, Bahraini speaker Lateefa Khalid, Kathleen Bates, Jack Saba, Emarati speaker Fatma al-Jassim, and Ahmed Ali al-Shahrani. The event ended with a speech by Nawaal Akram, an 18-year-old Pakistani born and raised in Qatar and the founder of the non-profit organisation Muscular Dystrophy Middle East. She talked about her journey of breaking stereotypes and showcasing a positive representation of people with disabilities in the media to be social accepted in the society every part of life. The idea of the Gala Dinner was conceived by Nawaal and she partnered with SHIFT Events Media & Exhibitions and Sabi Beauty to organise the event.

Live music show enthrals Asian Town visitorsIbn Ajayan Projects recently organised ‘Weekend Festival’ at Plaza Mall in Asian Town. This week’s ‘Live Music Show’ attracted a big crowd from the beginning to the end. The show was performed by Trends, an Indian music band in Qatar. Six singers in the band – Sivapriya, Nithya, Siraj, Sabid, Harib and Aneesh – performed on the stage. The live music enthralled thousands of viewers gathered at the event. The organisers also gave a chance for some among the audience to showcase their talents on stage. Others chose to dance on the floor. The show began at 5:30pm and ended at 8pm. Weekend Festival is a new initiative from Ibn Ajayan Projects, started this year to entertain the visitors of Asian Town, especially those who visits Plaza Mall. The entry to the event venue was free.The Weekend Festival at Asian Town will continue on all alternate weekends throughout the year.

Documents

D C—34 C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE PUZZLES Being contrite