Mpumalanga | Wednesday
THE axing of Dr Thys von Mollendorff as superintendent of the Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit for allowing the distribution of anti-retrovirals to HIV-positive pregnant women is ethically indefensible, human rights law experts from the University of the Witwatersrand said on Wednesday.
”We call on the MEC for health to reconsider her actions carefully in the light of doctors’ universally recognised ethical obligations,” they said in a statement.
Von Mollendorff should be reinstated, the experts said.
After being found guilty of gross insubordination, he was dismissed from his job last month for allowing the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (Grip) to work in the hospital.
Von Mollendorff is appealing the decision.
Grip is a volunteer organisation providing free anti-retrovirals, along with trauma counselling, clothes and legal advice to rape survivors at two state hospitals.
An application by Mpumalanga health MEC Sibongile Manana to prevent Grip from distributing free anti-retrovirals is to be heard by the Pretoria High Court on April 9.
The university experts said political interference in health care delivery was unambiguously denounced by the World Medical Association in a declaration as far back as 1986.
”Dr Von Mollendorff acted within the letter and spirit of this declaration. The victimising for having defended the highest principles of his profession was unjust in terms of humane ethical standards,” they said.
”Moreover we believe the MEC’s actions go against President Thabo Mbeki’s calls for volunteerism, since the services rendered by Grip were funded by voluntary contributions from the Greater Nelspruit community.” – Sapa