It seems as if the cabinet thinks that members of the Executive are entitled to special treatment and that their credibility may not be questioned . Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said this morning that the Cabinet took a dim view of the “distasteful coverage” of the Minister of Health, particularly the unlawful publication and theft of her medical records from a hospital. “The sacrosanct principle of doctor-patient confidentiality should be respected at all times, and its application could not be dependent on a person’s class, position, gender or race.”
It is true that public figures do not forfeit their right to privacy just because they run the country – even when they run it very badly like Mbeki and Tshabalala Msimang. Such figures also have a right to expect that what happens between them and their doctors stay private. But the facts in this case seem to suggest that the doctor-patient confidentiality argument is a red-herring.
The newspaper asked questions about the Minister’s treatment based on evidence that she was an alcoholic. They also reported that other medical practitioners had questioned whether she had not jumped the queue for the liver transplant. The legitimate question was asked whether her doctors had not broken rules and had not lied to the public when they assured us that everything was above board.
I cannot see how this reporting was in breach of the doctor-patient confidentiality rule unless one interprets this confidentiality rule to be so broad as to prohibit any discussion or speculation about the treatment of a patient by a doctor. Such an interpretation would be absurd because it would preclude the media from ever uncovering any maladministration or abuse of power in cases of medical treatment.
Where this treatment is controversial and perhaps based on abuse of the politicians power, newspapers would have a duty to report on it – as long as they do not report on information that only the doctor and the patient could have shared.
The doctor-patient confidentiality issue mentioned by the cabinet is therefore besides the point. Like the sub judice rule it is being used here to try and shut out any questions about abuse of power and whether the Minsiter really is a drunk and a thief. Interestingly enough, the cabinet did not address the substantive issues, namely whether the Health Minister had jumped the liver transplant queue or not. They therefore never disputed the factual basis of the report but is trying to change the subject – classic tactics if you do not want the public to know what is happening.
The spokesperson for the cabinet also criticised those who suggested that President Thabo Mbeki might have interfered to secure a liver transplant for his Minister of Health and stated that caution had to be exercised when criticising the head of state.
We think it is absolutely essential for South Africans to show a level of respect for the office of the head of state … If you look at the statement [by the DA], it says the Public Protector must investigate this allegation and the integrity of the office of the president was being called into question …
This is a complex issue bedeviled by race, but it seems to me also deeply problematic to argue, as Mr Maseko in effect does here, that it is inappropriate ever to question the integrity of the head of state. President Mbeki had denied involvement, but it surely is legitimate to ask the question.
Firstly, we know that heads of state often have little or no integrity – think Richard Nixon or George W Bush. Secondly, we know that President Thabo Mbeki and those in his office has a particularly tortured relationship with reality and “Truth”. The President likes to re-interpret it to deny problems and the Minister in his office has on occasion provided answers to questions which turned out to be, well, untrue.
No one is above the law and no one is beyond scrutiny. To suggest that the President is entitled to a free pass because he is our head of state is to question the very basis of our Constitutional democracy – namely that everyone is equal before the law.
- equal before the law –
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…
I agree. Most of the allegations are directly relevant to her ability to do her job: if she received preferential treatment, it’s an abuse of power; if she is an alcoholic with a current drinking problem, we can’t be sure she isn’t drinking on the job. Either these claims are facts, and she’s not fit to be a cabinet minister; or they’re false and she should sue for defamation. The option that the President seems to be pressing for is untenable: they can’t be true but irrelevant.
Of course you could just change the truth for lies – -
“A South African government official was suspended on Friday after it was found he attempted to censor information on the popular Wikipedia website about his country’s HIV and Aids policies”
Moerane lashed out at the paper, saying that the National Health Act was “unambiguous” in its protection of patients and that “all information” concerning a patient and their stay in hospital was confidential.
“Kings and beggars are all afforded the same protection,” he said.
Ahhhh – beggars can also get a new liver – when the old one is sat with the papsak?
Really good article – I like your analysis of the situation. Of course, to take a more pragmatic view, famous people do give up a large portion of their privacy, willingly or otherwise, particularly those in the realm of politics. One might even argue that they should be more willing to be transparent so as to set a better example. I find the ANC’s reaction to this whole mess interesting, anyway – as you’ve pointed out, not once have they tried to prove that the woman isn’t an alcoholic – rather they’ve focussed on finger-wagging at the media. (Mind you, that is the ANC’s favourite response. To anything.)
knhflszAfricannabis, I agree to your quote from George Orwell – problem is, the ‘more-equal’ pigs in control are now assuming a more humaoid appearance for us other animals. Yesterday one could be chuck into gaol for criticising the President, Today one loses one’s job, and gets be subjected to civil claims for refund of well spent money while the Deputy doesn’t even get a slap on the wrist for the sazme kid of offence?!
[...] Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang passed away yesterday. While foreign readers might not know who she is (or was), she will be well known to anyone with a connection to South Africa. They will know her as the AIDS-denialist Health Minister who associated with quacks and never lived up to her promise upon taking office that she would roll out ARV treatment to those in need in SA. Perhaps better still, they will know her for her (in)famous comments that HIV and AIDS should be treated with a diet of garlic, lemons, beetroot and African potato. Oh, and then there was the legendary interview with John “not always right, but never going to admit it” Robbie on Talk 702 where they spent most of the time discussing how she should be addressed: “I’m not Manto to you!”. And how could we forget the liver transplant saga? Did she need it because she was an alcoholic? Did she jump the queue? How did the Sunday Times gain access to her medical records? And should they have published them? [...]