SA Renal Society Position Statement on the recent arrest of doctors

SA Renal Society Position Statement on the recent arrest of doctors

The Members of the South African Renal Society offer heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the recent tragic loss of a child during a post-operative period. We also acknowledge the pain of the other families that have since come forward.

Notwithstanding the above, the Society’s members deplore the way in which warrants of arrest were served for the health care practitioners involved with this patient without apparent due process of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa. The Council has since agreed with this concern.

We believe such a precedent will significantly affect a health care practitioner’s willingness to perform complicated procedures or treatments including renal replacement therapy, for fear of criminal accusation should recognised and published complications develop, especially when individual cases are not properly investigated.

As a society we believe that once the HPCSA due process has been diligently adhered to and their findings and recommendations made known, then and only then should the NPA and SAPS be involved in any potential criminal implications including culpable homicide.

Yours truly

Renal Society Executive Committee