Cardiologist John Gough and Gastroenterologist Ervin Gabourel will appear in Corozal Magistrate's court on Monday. The doctors dueled publicly yesterday afternoon at the Santa Elena border and were both charged for disorderly conduct. They were given police station bail and told to appear on Monday to be charged for obstruction. Gabourel told us that despite the fight, he wasn't changing his plans to head to the United States via Cancun. We were unable to reach Dr. Gough for comment today.
We also could not reach his brother Dr. George Gough. He's the President of the Belize Medical Council which regulates the medical profession and practice in the country. If any disciplinary action is to be taken it would come from this body. President of the Belize Medical and Dental Union Dr. Pedro Ariaga says it is a civil and social matter which had nothing to do with their professional behavior. Because of that he doubts his body could impose any sanctions because it does not regulate the profession. Ariaga did add however that it is an embarrassment to the medical field but he added, "personal misconduct is hard to control."
As we reported last night, both men were heading over to Mexico and bumped into each other near the border management building where the money changers gather. Words were exchanged. Gabourel claims that Gough threatened to punch him "one of these days." Gabourel says he told Gough "it can be today" and after that, it was on.
Gabourel by all accounts got the better of Gough who was quite badly bruised and bloodied. Gabourel said only his shirt was torn. A relative of Gough told us that because of a pending assault case in court, Gough knew he could not afford to get into another fight and Gabourel took advantage of that.
As we reported there is some history between the two. Both were BDF doctors, and Gabourel was Gough's commanding officer in October of 2006 when Gough was convicted of desertion of duty and was made to spend twenty-one days in lockdown at Price Barracks.
As we understand it in this case Gabourel is claiming extreme provocation, while Gough has complained that he was assaulted. Gough's family told us that he was left bruised to his face and was even knocked unconscious for a few seconds. For Dr. John Gough it is an unfortunate second allegation of involvement in a fight. In February he was accused of a vicious assault on 16 year old Carlos Zelaya Junior. That case is in court and Dr. John Gough has claimed he did not inflict the beating.
