An opinion piece was published in the Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine in November 2021, titled ‘Private Healthcare in South Africa: Expensive Doesn’t Always Mean Excellent’ by Professor Daynia Ballot (the ‘author’).
Subsequent to the publication of the opinion piece, it was drawn to the attention of the Editor that the author's views were not in all instances explicitly distinguishable from the utterances of Dr R Chetty who is mentioned in the opinion piece. It is with this in mind and after consultation with the author the relevant part of the opinion piece is re-published to distinguish all the more, which aspects of the relevant parts constitute the author's personal views.
Below is the republished extract of the opinion piece:
“Once you start to ask questions, you are no longer a bereaved relative to be treated with respect and compassion, but one becomes an enemy to be defeated. In my view this was particularly evident during a webinar that I participated in recently. (4) Dr R. Chetty was arguing against reporting medical malpractice in the press. He used the metaphor of a boxing match between the doctor (the victim) and the patient (who has nothing to lose).
In my opinion, this is not a friendly exchange, but a bitter fight for survival with no holds barred. Compassion and humanity go out of the window, misogyny and gas-lighting rear their ugly heads. Your integrity and veracity are questioned. The pain and devastation of your loss are not considered at all. You, as the patient, are completely alone with no support or funding, up against the well-resourced expert lawyers of private healthcare system”
Pravin Manga
Editor
Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine