A medical practitioner found guilty of unprofessional conduct after being charged with performing an abdominal hysterectomy incompetently and without patient’s consent was fined R10,000, writes MedicalBrief. This was among the recent findings of the Health Professions Council of South Africa's various disciplinary committees.
May 2021
Mr G Kuhn
(ANT 0009911/23237366)
Complaint:
THAT you are guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to your profession, is unprofessional in that, during October 2019, or part/s thereof, you acted in a manner that is not in accordance with the norms and standards of your profession in that you brought the profession into disrepute by making racial discrimination remarks on religion through social media, which offended your colleagues.
Penalty:
The Professional Conduct Committee found the respondent of unprofessional conduct and imposed a Caution and Reprimand.
Mr G Staley
(ANT 0009873/23237366)
Complaint:
THAT you are guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to your profession, is unprofessional in that, during October 2019, or part/s thereof, you acted in a manner that is not in accordance with the norms and standards of your profession in that you brought the profession into disrepute by making racial discrimination remarks on religion through social media, which offended your colleagues.
Penalty:
The Professional Conduct Committee found the respondent of unprofessional conduct and imposed a Caution and Reprimand.
June 2021
Ms NP Ntimbane
(MT 0085626/22260454)
Complaint:
THAT you are guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to your profession, is unprofessional in that between April 2016 and December 2016 or part/s thereof, you acted in a manner that is not in accordance with the norms and standards of your profession in that you and/or your practice rendered and/or caused and/or permitted to be rendered on your behalf an account/statement wherein you charge and/or attempted to recover one or more or all of the amounts specified in the said account/statement in respect of services allegedly rendered by you and/or your practice while:
. 1.1 one or more or all the aforesaid services was/were not rendered by you and/or your practice; and/or
. 1.2 you were not entitled to payment of one or more all of the amounts specified in the said account/statement
. 1.3 the said account/statement was drafted in such a manner as to cause financial prejudice or potential prejudice to the Medical Aid and/or its members.
Penalty:
The Professional Conduct Committee found the respondent guilty of unprofessional conduct and imposed the following sentence:
• Removal of her name from the register of practitioners in the Medical Technology Professions Board (struck off the roll) .
July 2021
Mr ZD Mthembu
(BAA 0888184/21546388)
Complaint:
Count 1
THAT you are guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to your profession, is unprofessional in that on February 2018 in respect of your colleague, you acted in a manner that is not in accordance with the norms and standard of your profession in that you assaulted your colleague while on duty.
Count 2
THAT you are guilty of unprofessional conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to your profession, is unprofessional in that on or about February 2018, in respect of your colleague you and acted in a manner that is not in accordance with the norms and standards of your profession in that your conduct, an assault on a colleague, substantially lowers the dignity and/or damages the reputation of the profession.
Penalty:
The respondent was charged with one count of unprofessional conduct for assaulting his colleague, the proceedings were conducted via virtual platform and the respondent entered a guilty plea to the charge.
The respondent was found guilty by the professional conduct committee and sanctioned as follows:
• Fined R5 000.00 wholly suspended for three years on condition he is not found guilty of a similar offence during the period of suspension.
See also from the MedicalBrief archives:
HPCSA disciplinary findings — March 2021