Dr Jacques de Vos has been barred from practicing medicine and will soon attend a disciplinary inquiry this month after advising patients that abortion is the killing of an unborn human being.
More than two years since he was barred from practicing as a doctor, De Vos who is a former Military Hospital doctor and a member of the Doctors For Life International (DFL) organisation, will be given the opportunity to respond to charges laid against him for his beliefs and opinions regarding abortion.
According to the DFL, a doctor dealing with pregnant patients is called to care for two patients instead of just one. The DFL also dictates that it is his Hippocratic obligation to treat each of his patients with beneficence and respect, must maximize the good for each patient he cares for and avoid intentionally inflicting harm or killing them during treatment.
De Vos was completing his medical internship at 2 Military Hospital, located in Wynberg, when he was suspended from the gynaecology rotation and refused to be signed off.
As a result, he has also been prevented from commencing his community service year, effectively barring him from practicing medicine in South Africa for the past two years.
Despite continuous efforts from De Vos and his legal team, no assistance from the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) was received to continue his career.
Advocate Keith Matthee, instructed by De Wet Wepener Attorneys, will represent De Vos when he appears before a disciplinary inquiry panel scheduled for August 27 and 28 in Cape Town.
“A great deal of interest from the medical community is expected to be attracted by the case as many healthcare practitioners like De Vos have experienced victimisation and discrimination for advising women of the adverse effects of abortion on both the mother and unborn child and upholding the sanctity of the life,” the DFL said.
The venue for the public hearings is yet to be confirmed by the HPCSA, but members of the public who are interested in the case are encouraged to attend.
You can write to HPCSA to express your view at legalmed@hpcsa.
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