Doctors for Life International (DFL) is a NPC – (Non Profit Company) that was founded and established in South Africa (SA) in 1991. Members include medical doctors and specialists, dentists, and veterinarians from within South Africa and the international community. We bring medical professionals together to form a united front to uphold our core three principles:

• To uphold sound science in the medical profession
• The protection of the sanctity of life from fertilisation until natural death.
• A Judaeo Christian ethic within the medical profession.

As medical doctors we have been faced with an increase in societal harms such as botched abortions, sexually transmitted infections, drug overdoses, attempted and completed suicides, sexual assaults, mental disorders and the like in our practices. We therefore recognized the urgent need to intervene. Through pre-emptive prevention, treatment and education DFL’s has developed into the leading voice on the core values we defend.

Since DFL first opposed the legalization of abortion in SA in 1991 it has taken on other ethical issues such as; alternative medicine, euthanasia, medical ethics, pornography, sexual exploitation and substance abuse. DFL is regularly contacted by news agencies across South Africa and abroad to comment on, or debate these issues on your behalf.

We provide information for the DFL medical professional members who represent us on platforms such as radio and TV debates. We also conduct public presentations and issue press releases on relevant topics. The E&A department distributes our Life Alerts ethics newsletter twice a month to Members and Friends of DFL, as well as a DFL quarterly newsletter about our programs. Life Alerts contain the latest medical, legal, and other news on ethical issues.

To receive DFL Newsletters email [email protected] or subscribe online.

The E&A department also works closely with our legal department to procure expert evidence for court cases. The legal department’s task is to defend or advance sound science through litigation. We also fight for the rights of our healthcare workers and for the freedom of conscientious objection in the  medical profession. This is done through court actions, submissions to Parliament and participating in public forums where controversial issues are being debated.

Drawing from various legal counsel and international experts on the respective issues, DFL ensures the highest standard of advice to members and society. DFL has been involved in almost 15 land mark court cases in SA that include:

2000 – Prince v President of Law Society – DFL rendered evidence of the harmful effects of cannabis (dagga). The Constitutional court ruled that dagga remain illegal.
2001 – Jordan case – DFL opposed the legalization of prostitution. The final court ruling kept prostitution illegal.
2003 – De Reuck case – The court ruled that child pornography stays illegal.
2014 – Top TV/StarSat court case – With the introduction of the first ever dedicated pornography TV channels in SA, DFL opposed this. The ruling was in our favour keeping it illegal.
2015 – Stransham-Ford case – Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that Euthanasia should remain illegal.
2017 – Stobbs & Clark Dagga court case.
2017 – Prince Constitutional Dagga Case.

• We were one of the first groups in SA to oppose the abortion law in court after it had been legalized in 1994.
• We were the first to start a recovery program for prostitutes in the Point area of Durban from 2004.
• When AIDS patients were reported to occupy up to 90% of beds in some hospitals in the early 90’s DFL intervened. We were one of the first organizations in SA to develop a program to train volunteers in HIV/AIDS Home Based Palliative Care.
• More than 900 candidates have completed the 5-day basic course, which has been presented in 4 provinces. DFL also conducted Home Based Care training courses in some provincial hospitals.
• DFL initiated research and training on herbal medications in South Africa such as Artemisia products to treat malaria.