IT is regretted that personal medical information is splashed over the front page of your newspaper dated August 15, referring to your article of the prominent individual, Mandla Mandela, grandson of former president Nelson Mandela ("Mandla infertile, estranged wife claims in court”).
We, as medical professionals and representatives of reproductive medicine, would consider this as private.
Discussing his infertility in public goes against all ethical and moral principles.
The question should be asked whether this is for public consumption. We, as clinicians, share in the plight of this family and you had no right, as a respectable newspaper, to publish this. An apology to the family will be appropriate.
It seems you have taken it upon yourselves to be the arbiter of the medical profession, referring to degrading a colleague (Karl Muller) by naming him the hooligan of the day. It is unfortunate that a caring doctor should be seen as the enemy of society.
The complications of treatment are unfortunate and if his conduct was in any way not what was expected, the matter should be addressed by the responsible governing bodies. However, to judge his character based on this incident alone is unfair and uncalled for ("PE doctor hit with huge fine”).
Dr Paul Dalmeyer and Dr Danie Botha, Port Elizabeth Fertility Unit
Letters
| Letters
