After Groote Schuur Hospital dismissed a junior doctor’s cries for help to ultimately dismiss him from their services- stigmatising mental health disorders and addiction.
Dr. Sheridan Mark Walter was dismissed from Groote Schuur Hospital in 2020 for charges related to mental health problems which were ignored throughout his internship by intern curator Dr. Mark Sonderup. Dr. Walter was accused of prescribing addictive substances for personal use, but CEO Dr. Bhavna Patel rejected claims of ill health.
Commissioner Gail McEwan also denied that Dr. Walter was ill and said that she doesn’t believe Dr. Walter was suicidal in an attempt to take his own life. She also laid claims that dehydration causes depression.
After deterioration of Dr. Walter’s mental health and being victimised for being gay, he was continuously ignored in attempts to raise the issue. Subsequently he developed a substance use disorder which received no attention. Groote Schuur Hospital sent a clear message to those who suffer from a mental health disorder or substance use disorders- one of stigma and described by CEO Dr. Bhavna Patel as someone who should not be allowed to be a doctor despite years of study.
Commissioner Gail McEwan with help from Dr. Mark Sonderup conveniently made use of legislation employed by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to secure an unfair dismissal. Labour law and the laws of the HPCSA is separate, but in the case of Dr. Walter’s dismissal Commissioner Gail McEwan made use of conjectures about the HPCSA to secure his dismissal at an arbitration where Dr. Walter weren’t allowed witnesses.
What made Dr. Walter so important that unlawful measures were followed to dismiss him?
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