Killing of Dr Munshi is outrageous and deplorable – South African Medical Association/Hpcsa.

National Statement

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is shocked at the death of anaesthetist Dr Abdulhay Munshi in Johannesburg yesterday on the afternoon of the 16th of September. The Association says it deplores the violence that resulted in Dr Munshi’s murder, and that it is a sad day when a country cannot guarantee the safety of its healthcare workers.

According to reports a vehicle rammed into the back of Dr Munshi’s vehicle while he was driving in a Johannesburg suburb and when he got out to inspect the damage, he was shot six times in the back of the head.

In a most unusual move Dr Munshi and Paediatric Surgeon Professor Peter Beale were earlier this year charged with culpable homicide after ten-year-old Zayyaan Sayed died following an operation performed by Prof Beale and assisted by Dr Munshi in 2019. According to sources these charges were about to be dropped based on post mortem evidence.

“This appears to be an organised assassination the circumstances of which we hope will become clearer through intensive and thorough investigation. This killing is the result of a systematic failure of law and order in our country. As doctors we always consider our patients’ best interests and we go to extreme lengths to ensure their safety and security. It is more than disappointing when this care is not reciprocated by the society we serve every day,” says Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of SAMA.

Dr Coetzee says the killing of Dr Munshi again highlights the high levels of crime in the country, and the low value criminals place on human lives. She says the fact that a doctor was killed in this way will reverberate throughout the medical community, and ultimately cause more damage in the future.

“Doctors are already becoming more risk averse because of legal issues. That one of our colleagues was murdered in cold blood like this – ostensibly in relation to a patient’s outcome – will make many think twice before making decisions which could potentially save lives, but which may also have negative outcomes. It’s an untenable situation,” says Dr Coetzee.

SAMA says it is important that the entire medical community comes together to collectively condemn the killing, and to pressure police to find those responsible as quickly as possible. In addition SAMA calls on civil society to apply pressure, in whatever way they can, to ensure government takes immediate and effective steps to curb violent crime.

“This is yet another low point for the profession, and words cannot begin to express how this is affecting and will affect all doctors and, in fact, all healthcare workers in the country. We foresee that many doctors will be second-guessing themselves in future for fear of being similarly targeted and ultimately that will lead to poorer patient intervention and care. It’s a sad, sad day for doctors and patients, and we call on everyone in our country to stand together with their doctors in condemning this atrocious attack,” concludes Dr Coetzee.

Health Professions Council of SA perturbed by doctor’s shooting:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/92643598408/permalink/10157957974433409/