A senior surgeon who was fired from Pholosong Hospital not only abandoned his patient – an elderly woman – after cutting her open during the operation, but also after the procedure was completed, reports Health24. The surgeon was dismissed for gross negligence and contravention of theatre protocol and did not refute any claims made against him, the Gauteng Health Department said.
As reported in a previous MedicalBrief, the surgeon is accused of leaving his patient on the operation table for 30 minutes, during which time he had a smoke.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Prince Hamnca said the operation was completed by the doctor, but his assistant had to take over afterwards. The department said that the patient did not suffer any complications. Hamnca also noted that back-up help was at hand.
Hamnca said the department will not hesitate to act against staff who act against their own code of practice and ethics. "This action, should in itself, give the public confidence in the health system that it is acting in their interest."
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) confirmed that it is investigating the doctor after a complaint was lodged against him. HPCSA ombudsman Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda said: "Health professionals who are found guilty of violating the Health Professions Act, its Regulations and Ethical Rules will be subjected to the penalties mentioned above without consideration of the human resource shortages for health in the country."
[link url="http://www.health24.com/News/Public-Health/EXCLUSIVE-Surgeon-walks-out-on-patient-not-once-but-twice-20150212"]Full Health24 report[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/patient-left-on-operating-table-while-surgeon-has-a-smoke/"]Previous MedicalBrief report[/link]