MEC did not break Hippocratic Oath

Sunday World columnist Vusi Nzapheza claims Dr Phophi Ramathuba violated her Hippocratic Oath during her haranguing of a Zimbabwean patient at a Limpopo hospital. Come on sir, she did no such thing. Why is that so? Ramathuba was not a clinician treating a sickly patient. She was an MEC conducting oversight on a portfolio under her charge. She may be a medical doctor, but she was at the hospital attending to the integrity of the health facility as a politician.

She was correct to transmit a message to the

Zimbabwe government via the Zimbabwean lady at the hospital, that it was not correct for South African taxpayers to be footing the heath bill for foreign patients while South African patients do not have such luxuries. What’s wrong with that? Why do some Zimbabwean organisations, such as the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, for instance, even support the MEC against critics who claim that she was both xenophobic and a bedside manners violator?

In fact, even Zimbabwe health centres were roused by shame to respond by announcing that they are ready to attend to the concerns of South African authorities.

It is only the affected lady who is threatening to sue the SA government for her “injured” dignity. Wow!

Ramathuba knows better than her critics what she is talking about regarding health facilities in Limpopo. But she committed no wrong in her outburst.

It is like that racist Donald Trump saying African states are a s**# hole. It is unpalatable but true.

Prof Themba Sono By email