EWN reports that an intern doctor, dismissed over his anti-abortion views, has argued that the inquiry into the matter must be based on scientific evidence.  

Jacques de Vos was charged by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) for informing a patient that abortion constituted the killing of an unborn human being.  The 32-year-old was an intern at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg and his HPCSA hearing commenced in Newlands on Tuesday.  In December 2016, he apparently tried to dissuade a patient from terminating her pregnancy.  He is accused of disrespecting her dignity and using emotive language to convey his beliefs.  His lawyer Keith Matthee said they needed more clarity on the charges:  “How far was the pregnancy? Was the pregnancy terminated?  You will see in the charge sheet that it’s ambiguous that he dissuaded her from having an abortion.  It’s ambiguous that we don’t know if the patient had the abortion or not.  It has to be rooted in science… whatever evidence is read must be rooted in science.”  Matthee indicated De Vos was one week short of completing the gynaecological section of his internship before he could advance to his year of community service.

• Read the full original of the above report by Kevin Brandt at EWN

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