Thursday, 28 March, 2024
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‘Dr Death’ still awaits charge sheet from HPCSA

The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) has still not served Dr Wouter Basson, dubbed ‘Dr Death’, his new charge sheet.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, now on special leave, told Parliament in March that the HPCSA had told him it was preparing fresh unprofessional conduct proceedings against Basson.

Mkhize’s reply came amid a public outcry over why Basson continued to practise as a specialist cardiologist at a Mediclinic-owned hospital in Cape Town.

Basson remained legally entitled to practise because he was not debarred, Mkhize pointed out.

The council’s 2013 findings that Basson’s role in the apartheid regime’s chemical and biological warfare amounted to unprofessional conduct could not be sustained after legal wrangles. The statutory body told Mkhize it was due to convene a new professional conduct committee to preside over a fresh inquiry against Basson.

However, The Star reports Basson is yet to be served the sheet detailing his charges, nor has the professional conduct committee to preside over the proceedings been established.

HPCSA spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane said the council had got the ball rolling in the matter, but the requisite professional conduct committee that would preside over the disciplinary hearing still needed to be appointed by the chairperson of the Medical and Dental Professional Board.

Charges had been drafted and would be sent to Basson after the presiding committee was set up, he said.

 

The Star article – HPCSA has still not served Dr Death his new charge sheet (Open access)

 

See more from MedicalBrief archives:

 

HPCSA to appeal High Court judgment on Dr Death

 

HPCSA's 'comedy of errors' in disciplinary pursuit of Dr Death

 

Dr Death wins Supreme Court appeal against HPCSA

 

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