In December 2013, at a hearing held by the Professional Conduct Committee for the HPCSA, the committee found Dr Wouter Basson guilty of unprofessional conduct on a number of counts.
Six charges were initially brought against Dr Basson, however, he was acquitted on three charges. This was following an application for discharge, the ruling of which was handed down in January 2012.
On 26-27 November 2014, the Pro-forma Complainant presented two witnesses who presented that the appropriate sentence for Dr Basson is the removal of Dr Basson from the register. Key witnesses were Mr Mark Heywood from Section 27, Mrs Marjorie Jobson of Khulumani Support Group. However, Prof Mark Blockman, (a clinical pharmacologist) the head of the Ethics Committee at UCT presented his case on 19 January 2015.
On 19 January 2015, Dr Basson’s legal team lodged an application with the Gauteng North High Court compelling the Chairperson of the Professional Conduct Committee, Professor Jannie Hugo and a member of the committee, Professor Eddie Mhlanga to provide information relating to their membership to any of the organisations that signed the petition agitating for the removal of Dr Basson from the roll of medical practitioners.
A further order was sought to prohibit Prof Hugo and Prof Mhlanga to proceed with the disciplinary proceedings against Dr Basson pending the finalisation of an application for the recusal of Professor Hugo and Professor Mhlanga to be filed within 48 hours.
Dr Basson’s legal team was granted the opportunity to apply for the recusal of both Professor Jannie Hugo and Professor Eddie Mhlanga. This had to be done within 10 days of the court’s decision. Dr Basson’s legal team have applied for the recusal of both professors. The matter will be deliberated by the Professional Conduct Committee at the proceedings scheduled for 12 March 2015.
Last Updated on 4 March 2015 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs