Doctor’s fine a slap on the wrist

IT’S disgraceful, disgusting and despicable that a man from such a noble profession, who has sworn to uphold the Hippocratic oath, could stoop so low and put wealth before the health of his patients.

Errant doctors who moonlight, overcharge their patients and defraud medical aids out of greed to lead lavish lifestyles are giving the medical profession a bad name.

Both are equally to blame, the doctor who defrauded the medical aid and the Health Professional Council of South Africa, which gave him a slap on his wrist with a R20 000 fine.

A small fine is not a deterrent but only an encouragement to others to be dishonest.

It is stupid of the medical council to say it is losing the war against fraud when it does not take a strong stand against it. It has the power and the means to lay criminal charges against fraudulent doctors, but chooses not to. Why, may we ask? Is it because it’s easier to milk the public and increase members’ fees to compensate for the billions of rand lost through fraud than to drag these predatory doctors to court?

Doctors, who cheat medical schemes, are actually stealing from their patients and should be treated no different than a common criminal.

In fact, because of their status in society, they should be punished more severely.

And why are they not suspended but allowed to continue with their crooked practice?

Why are they not named and shamed, so that the public will know who the rogue doctors are?

Perhaps the public protector should investigate.

Some greedy doctors do not serve humanity but themselves, to accumulate wealth quickly, to live in uMhlanga and drive that dream car. THYAGARAJ MARKANDAN

Silverglen