Embattled Stellenbosch TV doctor and radiologist Pieter Henning was killed in a car crash in Potchefstroom last week, after his vehicle slammed into a streetlight and then several trees, reports News24.
The police said Henning was declared dead at the scene, and that the cause of the accident had not yet been established. They are investigating reports that his vehicle may have hit a pedestrian shortly before the crash, although spokesperson Sergeant Kelebogile Morake said investigators were still collecting CCTV footage and had not yet confirmed that version of events.
Henning, one of the founders of Keystone Radiology – with branches across the country and which was renamed RadDx Radiology after his reputation took a major buffering – was under investigation by the Health Professions Council of SA amid allegations of opioid abuse and practising while impaired.
He was also accused of medical negligence after an ICU nurse reported that he had caused the death of a patient at Mooimed Private Hospital in Potchefstroom in 2023 as a result of severe internal bleeding.
Henning also faced charges for firing a gun in a public place in Stellenbosch last year. The state alleged he was drunk at the time but the radiologist protested that his actions were driven by anxiety, triggered by memories of his military service.
Every case now silenced
Whistle-blower Lizelma Kassteen said she had only wanted Henning to be held accountable for his actions, and believes his death leaves critical questions unanswered.
Kassteen, who had accused him of treating patients while under the influence of addictive opioids, had worked for five years as Henning’s receptionist at his George, Western Cape practice, but became suspicious that he was abusing prescription medication. She eventually lodged a complaint to the HPCSA, alleging he was self-administering the Schedule 6 opioid pethidine.
She claimed she saw large quantities of pethidine ampoules in Henning’s possession and suspected that he injected himself in the practice bathroom before doing invasive procedures on patients.
She alleged his behaviour became increasingly erratic, and she became concerned that lives were at risk.
Kassteen collected discarded pethidine ampoules and a needle she alleged Henning had discarded at the practice, and which were subjected to forensic testing before being submitted to the HPCSA.
According to documents submitted to the council, DNA testing found identical DNA profiles on the samples.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the HPCSA had not concluded its investigation before Henning’s death, allowing him to continue practising medicine while the probe dragged on.
Henning was facing another unresolved HPCSA investigation after an ICU nurse at Mooimed Private Hospital accused him of botching a pleural drain procedure in July 2023 that apparently caused catastrophic and fatal internal bleeding in a patient.
The nurse said she waited two years before reporting the incident because she had been assured hospital management would investigate and notify the HPCSA themselves.
She claims that never happened.
That investigation, too, remained unfinished when Henning died.
He was also defending a protection order proceeding brought by a woman seeking legal intervention against him, but had denied any violence, claiming the application had been brought with ulterior motives.
That matter also remained before the courts.
Henning initially threatened News24 with legal action before publication of its first article about the criminal and professional charges against him in December. When his threats failed, he flew from the North West to Cape Town to defend himself to News24. He claimed to have only once self-administered pethidine, saying he'd had a situation where his testicles were incredibly painful and that the drug had provided him some relief.
After the first article was published, communication stopped.
Henning later instructed his advocate to threaten an interdict to prevent further reporting, but that effort also failed.
Now, the criminal case, the protection order proceedings, and two HPCSA investigations all remain unfinished, leaving the allegations against the once-prominent TV doctor forever unresolved.
News24 article – Controversial TV doctor Pieter Henning dies in car crash (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
HPCSA to consider syringe ‘evidence’ in radiologist’s drug abuse probe
Stellenbosch doctor in opioid abuse inquiry now charged with gun violations
Embattled Stellenbosch doctor now faces charges over patient’s death