Sasog and GMG call for fair legal procedure
The two groups also expressed concerns that the late Dr and his colleague were 'villainised' before proper legal proceedings.
Following the death of Doctor Abdulhay Munshi, obstetricians and gynaecologists offered their condolences.
In a statement they issued, the council and members of the South African Society of Obstetricians and gynaecologists (Sasog) and the Gynaecology Management Group (GMG) said they were deeply saddened and appalled by the brutal murder of the respected and revered anaesthesiologist and colleague.
“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to Dr Munshi’s family, colleagues and friends. Sasog and GMG strongly condemn violent crime and appeal to government to step up efforts to manage this scourge and to protect its citizens,” the statement read.
The statement further read that this incident highlights an apparent escalating trend of violence against healthcare professionals, including a recent incident in which a female doctor was apparently physically attacked by the male relatives of a patient who passed away. The two groups expressed that this trend is of great concern to them because doctors are unable to practise their profession of healing when they are in constant fear of their lives.
“While the death of a patient is always tragic and highly traumatic, even when everything possible is done, medical outcomes are not always predictable and may be undesirable. While great strides have been made to improve the safety of operations and other medical interventions, some patients still become very ill and may even die. This does not mean that the doctor is at fault,” said Sasog and GMG.
They continued, “We respect and fully support the rule of law and the regulatory processes guiding investigations and the quest for justice. We believe that professional bodies should lead in the prevention, identification and management of medical negligence and should lead investigations in this regard.”
In South Africa, it is the role of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to investigate all matters of alleged medical negligence. Sasog and GMG were therefore deeply concerned that Dr Beale and Dr Munshi were immediately ‘villainised’ in the media following the tragic passing of Zayyaan Sayed last year, before a proper investigation by the HPCSA could take place.
According to Sasog and GMG, globally, reforms regarding medical culpable homicide have taken place or are under discussion in countries including India, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom and Sasog is working with the Federation of South African Surgeons (Fosas) and the South African Anaesthetic Society (Sasa) to speed up these reforms in South Africa.
Details: SASOG www.sasog.co.za/contact-sasog
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