/ 1 January 2002

Hospital probes ‘Butcher of Rosebank’s’ ops

The Johannesburg Hospital is conducting an audit of all operations performed by Dr Wynne Lieberthal at its children’s spinal unit, to determine any potential negligence.

The hospital said in a media statement on Wednesday that Lieberthal, who is under investigation by the Health Professions Council of South Africa following numerous complaints against him, worked on a part-time basis in the unit from April to October this year.

His association with the hospital was immediately suspended last month when patients he had treated in a private hospital made allegations of negligence against him.

Lieberthal previously trained and worked at Johannesburg hospital until his resignation in 1999. The Gauteng health department has promised to act decisively should the audit reveal any irregularity.

Meanwhile, the Johannesburg High Court turned down Liberthal’s application on October 14 to ban Radio 702 from broadcasting ”defamatory statements” about him, following complaints broadcast by that radio station and published in The Star newspaper.

The court made no order in respect of the radio station calling Lieberthal ”Dr Death” or ”The Butcher of Rosebank” or questioning his qualifications. – Sapa