Pressure is growing on Life Westville Hospital management in Durban to finally act against a medical doctor who allegedly coerced patients to lay a fabricated complaint against a colleague.

On Monday, patients supported by civil society groups picketed outside the hospital in demand of Dr Ntando Duze’s reinstatement. The cardiologist was suspended due to alleged fabricated complaints by patients under the guidance of the doctor.

 A nurse at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they will be joining the picket, together with patients and members of the public who are against the management’s inaction on the matter despite evidence provided by the coerced patient, as well as the admission by the said doctor.

“We cannot let this go. The management cannot ignore this doctor’s action and get away with it. We do not understand why it did not act against him despite evidence, as well as his admission that he coerced a patient to fabricate complaints against innocent Dr Duze,” said the nurse.

A patient, who found himself caught up in alleged fierce professional jealousy and racial battle between doctors at Life Westville Hospital in Durban, revealed how a plot to get 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, he (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 to reach out to him, and the doctor apologised to the patient.

On Sunday, Dr Duze said he was disturbed that the hospital management was still refusing to take disciplinary action against the doctor despite his admission that he coerced patients against him. He said the doctor wrote an apology to the patient but not to him.

“I laid a complaint against the doctor, which was supported by an affidavit from my patient.  The doctor admitted to the hospital management of his wrongdoing and apologised to the patient, yet the management did not take any action regarding his behaviour and instead suspended me despite having evidence of a plot against me,” said Duze.

A source within the hospital said the whole plot to destroy Dr Duze 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.

In response, hospital regional manager Bhaviksha Maharaj said the hospital is aware of the allegations involving Dr Duze.

She said in line with standard procedure, his admitting privileges were temporarily suspended pending a confidential internal review, conducted alongside an independent Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) investigation. This precautionary measure did not prevent him from practising at another facility or seeing patients in his rooms; it applied solely to hospital admissions, which is standard protocol.

Maharaj further stated that before an internal review was concluded, Dr Duze chose to end his practising relationship with the hospital.

“We are aware of the recent gathering that took place outside the hospital and wish to be clear that we do not take the concerns raised lightly. We reject any claims of racial discrimination and remain committed to equality, fairness, and respect for all practitioners, staff, and patients.

“While we strive to be transparent, due to the ongoing HPCSA investigation, we are unable to comment on specific information to protect the integrity of the process, and all parties involved.”

 willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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