A Cape Town general surgeon accused of inappropriate conduct by a patient and harassment of female staff, and who has been dismissed from Mediclinic Panorama, has denied any “intentional” wrongdoing.
Dr Ignatius Botha has permanently vacated the hospital group’s premises, Mediclinic spokesperson Nokuzola Plaatjie told News24.
Botha was suspended from working at the hospital earlier this year amid an internal investigation into the complaints against him.
According to sources, Botha had been accused of performing a pelvic examination without surgical gloves on a young woman who presented with an abscess under her arm.
A complaint was lodged and subsequently investigated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
HPCSA spokesperson Priscilla Sekhonyana said the matter had been decided, and the outcome was communicated to both the complainant and Botha.
She said based on the information, “the complaint has been finalised and no further action (is) to be taken against the respondent”.
“The committee accepted the explanation of the respondent.”
Numerous attempts to reach both Botha and his lawyer were unsuccessful.
Although doctors practise independently, action can be taken if the group’s workplace behaviour policy is contravened.
But one former colleague, who reported him to the HPCSA after staff complaints remained unresolved, said the hospital’s action was “a little too late”, that the alleged harassment dates back years, with staff claiming he would pass improper remarks and touch them inappropriately.
After his suspension, Botha denied any “intentional wrongdoing” that the two women working at the hospital “perceived” as inappropriate.
He claimed to have been made aware of the complaints months after they ostensibly occurred.
Additionally, he said he did not know who his accusers were, making it almost impossible to put the “perceived inappropriate conduct in its proper perspective”.
He declined to comment on the patient complaint, saying it was not appropriate other than to state that he denies having acted unprofessionally “in any way whatsoever”.
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Cape Town surgeon suspended for alleged harassment
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