The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) has violated the human rights of anti-abortion medic Jacques de Vos by delaying his hearing without giving a reason, claims ACDP MP Marie Sukers. According to a Cape Argus report, Sukers, who has been following the matter since it began over a year ago, said: “There is no reasonable explanation for the flagrant disregard for the rights of this young physician, as displayed in the delays and failure to follow an effective process.”
“The ACDP brought this matter to the attention of the Department of Health last year in the portfolio committee, requesting their intervention. This case is becoming more about the beliefs held by Dr de Vos,” she added. “He now is on trial by the HPCSA because he is unashamedly pro-life,” she opined.
Charged with unprofessional conduct for allegedly dissuading a pregnant woman from terminating her pregnancy and likening it to the “killing of a human being”, De Vos pleaded not guilty before a HPCSA Professional Conduct Committee in December 2019.
De Vos’ advocate, Martus de Wet, said: “We have been following up for a hearing date continuously since April.” “We eventually tentatively agreed on 1 October for a hearing, but when we didn’t get the notice of a sit down, we decided to submit our heads of argument to the panel. The HPCSA should dismiss the case as the prosecutor had failed to provide the complainant’s statement,” said De Wet.
Spokesperson for the HPCSA, Priscilla Sekhonyana, said that the date for a hearing has not yet been confirmed.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/hpcsa-accused-of-violating-rights-of-anti-abortion-medic-jacques-de-vos-ec7488b6-38a7-4958-bd74-981f07bf6216"]Full Cape Argus report[/link]