A patient who found himself caught up in alleged fierce professional jealousy and racial battle between doctors at Life Westville Hospital in Durban has revealed how a plot to get a good performing cardiologist, Dr Ntando Duze, suspended was hatched by a colleague.

In a shocking revelation contained in the affidavit deposed by a patient and a WhatsApp conversation between the patient and the plotting doctor seen by Independent Media, the doctor asked the patient to file a complaint against Dr Duze even if there was no evidence.

However, the patient refused and instead reported the doctor to the hospital management. The hospital reportedly did not take disciplinary action against the said doctor, except reaching out to him, and the doctor apologised to the patient.

Sources within the hospital said the whole plot to destroy the black doctor was allegedly engineered by another hospital, which is owned by a rival group.

The hospital was said to have offered Dr Duze R15 million and a house to leave the Life group and join its hospital, which specialises in cardiology, but Dr Duze turned down the offer.

Although the said patient refused to play along in the plot, it is believed that the plotters succeeded in getting to other patients, as Dr Duze was eventually suspended.

He confirmed his suspension but refused to discuss it further, saying the matter was now with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which is expected to investigate the complaints against him. 

A patient, who could not be named to protect his identity, confirmed the incident and the affidavit he deposed. He also confirmed the WhatsApp messages where he was being pressured by the doctor to complain about Dr Duze, even if there was no evidence.

“I think this was driven by professional jealousy and greed. You will know that this sector, particularly cardiology, has been a terrain of Indian and white doctors for a long time; now they are upset by Dr Duze’s good work. Every GP (general practitioner) refers their heart patients to him, which is not sitting well with those who had been dominating the sector,” said the patient.

The doctor’s suspension has sparked anger among his patients, who picketed outside the hospital in support of him on Monday morning.

The patient’s affidavit partly read: “This serves as an official complaint against Dr… regarding what I consider to be unprofessional and unethical conduct. At a time where I and my family were anxious about a medical procedure I was to undergo, Dr… was pestering me and putting me under pressure to report my doctor to the HPCSA even though I tried to explain that I have no evidence against Dr Duze, he insisted that I file a case with HPCSA, which I found unprofessional, careless and driven by ulterior motives.

“The doctor was not interested in helping me get a professional opinion, but in using me to further his agenda. Being a sick patient, I felt his action was insensitive and needed to be reported. He did not have to involve me in their politics while I was fighting for my life.”

The HPCSA has not yet responded to the questions sent to its communications team.

However, Life Westville Hospital said it has been made aware of the allegations against the doctor in question by the HPCSA, and upon receiving this information, the hospital initiated an internal review, which is still ongoing.

“Our investigation is still ongoing, and as such, we are not in a position to disclose further details at this time,” said the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karisha Quarie.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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