HPCSA ELATED AT GUILTY FINDING OF DR WOUTER BASSON
18 December 2013
Pretoria - The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is elated at the verdict of the Professional Conduct Committee, who found Dr Wouter Basson guilty of unprofessional conduct during his time as Head of Project Coast.
"As the custodian of ethics in healthcare, we are delighted at the Committee's decision. This is a watershed moment, not only for practitioners in the South African healthcare industry, but the outcome is also of critical interest to international publics," Dr Buyiswa Mjamba-Matshoba, Registrar and CEO of the HPCSA said.
This decision recognizes the Council's legal mandate as a statutory body to protect the public by investigating unethical and/or unprofessional conduct of healthcare practitioners.
Chairperson of the Professional Conduct Inquiry, Prof Jannie Hugo said Dr Basson contravened international protocols and conventions. "He confused ethics of a doctor with that of a soldier while discharging his duties. A doctor cannot rely on military orders to escape the consequences of his duties."