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There are places in society that are natural sanctuaries for vulnerable people. Places where everyone expects protection. These places include churches, police stations, hospitals, and schools. Reports of people getting abused at such places are rare and whenever someone is harmed there, it is shocking. Society holds authorities at these sanctuaries to the highest moral standards and most people trust those in charge of the places implicitly.
That unquestioning trust is what can lead to severe trauma when authorities in the perceived safe spaces abuse those they are supposed to protect. We carry in this publication a report of a 58-year-old doctor who is being accused of raping a 13-year-old patient at his surgery. Jabulani Dube is having his day in court and allegations against him may stick or he may get acquitted. It must be pointed out that he is innocent until proven guilty.
The incident, however, shatters the trust that society has for traditional safe places. If a doctor asks a woman to strip naked at a hospital, she does so without a second thought. A man can stand outside an examination room, leaving his wife naked with a doctor. This spells volumes about the trust members of the public have for medical practitioners.
We pray that when this case is concluded, that trust will be restored. We pray that the vulnerable will not be afraid to go for medical attention alone. If the doctor is innocent, the full wrath of the law should be visited on anyone who may have defamed him. If he is guilty, the law should not use kid gloves in dealing with him and should mete out the maximum possible sentence to deter like-minded people.
At the end of the day, the medical fraternity and society must be the winner. The symbiotic relationship between a doctor and a patient must be restored for the good of everyone.
Imagine the chaos if people stop going to the hospital because they are afraid of doctors. Relatively harmless diseases could develop into something complicated which may cost lives and weigh heavily on the country’s economy, especially if the patients have infectious diseases. Resources would have to be deployed to deal with outbreaks that could have been stopped easily.
Conversely, imagine a world where doctors are afraid of patients. Where they fear prosecution at every turn…
This case is important in determining social equilibrium is maintained and must be treated with sober minds.
Online Reporter