The commanding
officer of 2 Military Hospital has written to the attorneys of Dr JH De Vos,
acknowledging that wrong has been done by preventing Dr De Vos from being
signed off as a medical intern.
Dr De Vos was a medical intern at 2 Military
Hospital when he was suspended without a hearing from the Gynaecology rotation
for his views that the unborn child is a human being. The Intern Curator, Dr
Ismail, together with the head of gynaecology, Dr Van Wyk were responsible for
taking this action at the beginning of 2017. Dr De Vos’ internship was
completed in June 2017 after which he was due to start his community service.
However, the Dr Van Wyk (gynaecology) and Dr Walele (paediatrics) then refused
to sign Dr De Vos off, effectively barring him starting his community service.
Dr De Vos was then charged with unprofessional
conduct, and after more than two years of delays, the professional conduct
committee on 3 December 2019 struck down two of the charges against Dr De Vos
and confirmed that the disciplinary hearing does not stop the hospital from
signing Dr De Vos off.
In the meantime the new officer commanding of 2
Military Hospital has written to Dr De Vos’ attorneys, acknowledging the
wrongful actions of his predecessors and committed to assisting Dr De Vos to be
signed off. Subsequently, the paediatrics department confirmed that Dr De Vos
is signed off.
*Despite all these developments, Dr Van Wyk
persistently refuses to sign Dr De Vos off. Lawyers for Dr De Vos are now
considering his options to take Dr Van Wyk and or Dr Ismail to Court to compel
them to sign him off, and for compensation for the damages that he has
suffered, in their personal capacities.*
Dr De Vos, who is a member of Doctors For Life
International (DFL) is supported by DFL and legal team (De Wet Wepener
Attorneys and Adv Keith Matthee SC) on a pro bono basis. For more information
contact Doctors For Life at [email protected] or 057 004 0004.
