SOUTH AFRICA: DR JACQUES DE VOS [32] IS FACING CHARGES FOR TELLING A PREGNANT WOMAN BASIC SCIENTIFIC FACTS ABOUT HER UNBORN BABY; ALLEGED NEWS. [1] Dr de Vos was completing his medical internship two years ago when the Health Professions Council of South Africa charged him for telling a woman that an abortion kills a human being: Alleged News. [1]
Cape Town Inquiry
Dr de Vos' inquiry began Tuesday in Cape Town based on four unprofessional conduct charges; Alleged News. [1] According to the report, he allegedly 'infringed' on the patient's 'autonomy with anti-abortion utterances', Alleged News. [1] During Dr de Vos' medical internship at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg, he allegedly told a pregnant woman that her 'fetus was a human being' and that an abortion kills an unborn human, Alleged News. [1] Dr de Vos lost his employment and was banned from practising medicine, Alleged News. [1] He was only a week away from finishing his medical degree, Alleged News. [1]
Regulations
According to Defence advocate Keith Matthee, several regulations had not been adhered to, including
According to Defence advocate Keith Matthee, several regulations had not been adhered to, including
- failure to give the defence the complainant letter
- the reintroduction of new charges after the hearing date was finalized
- failure to disclose the members of the committee seven days before the hearing to allow the defence to carry out a diligence on them to ensure Dr de Vos got a fair trial
- failure to produce copies of written statements by witnesses, Alleged News [2]
African Christian Democratic Party
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) stated on Monday that it stood in solidarity with Dr Jacques de Vos, who is facing disciplinary inquiry for advising that abortion is the killing of a human being: Alleged News. [3] ACDP MP Maria Sukers said the party commended Dr de Vos, who was charged by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA); Alleged News. [3] MP Sukers said the doctor had taken a 'bold and unpopular stand in choosing to be a voice for the voiceless,' Alleged News. [3]
"The ACDP believes in the sanctity of human life, and we look forward to a time when the life of an unborn child will be given the reasonable protection it deserves, Dr de Vos is to us an indication that the time for that is not far off. His statement, which has landed him in hot water with the HPSCA and 2 Military Hospital shows that there are people who know that we cannot value human rights without valuing human life," MP Sukers stated: Alleged News. [3]
Counselling
Section 4 of the South Africa Numbered Acts: Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 [No 92 of 1996] - G 17602 states the following:
4. The State shall promote the provision of non-mandatory and non-directive counselling, before and after the termination of a pregnancy.
Consent
5. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5), the termination of a pregnancy may only take place with the informed consent of the pregnant woman. [4]
Thus non-mandatory and non-directive counselling prior- and post abortion is promoted. The abortion may only take place with the informed consent of the pregnant woman. Informed consent is the permission granted with the full knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released their 2018-2022 plan, which unequivocally states that life begins at conception and deserves protection, Alleged News. [5] In the introduction it says, "HHS accomplishes its mission through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, beginning at conception," Alleged News. [5]
In support of the HHS's draft, author and bioethics expert Wesley J Smith wrote, "life ...' beginning at conception' ... is a fact of basic biological science," Alleged News. [5]
Support for Dr de Vos
Expressed opinion in South Africa is becoming increasingly eloquent for pro-life, with strong support for Dr de Vos. 2019 has shown nationwide demonstrations against the abortion law [6], ongoing South African marches for life such as the March for Life Cape Town [7], the Pretoria prolife rally to protest abortion law [8], the NAL Pretoria demonstration against abortion [13], ongoing protests at Marie Stopes clinics [8 and 9]. The fact that mother and her unborn baby are two separate entities is clear [10]. Prolife voters went to the polls with prolife voter guide confidence [11]. South African prolifers affirmed the sanctity of unborn life at the National Alliance for Life [NAL] conference in Pretoria [12 and 13].
Persecution
Many are voicing the opinion that Dr de Vos is being persecuted for his prolife beliefs.
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[1] Doctor faces charges of unprofessional conduct for telling patient abortion kills a human being; Alleged News
[2] 'A foetus is a human': anti-abortion doctor charged with professional conduct; Alleged News
[3] ACDP in solidarity with anti-abortion doctor ahead of HPCSA inquiry, Alleged News
[4] South Africa: Numbered Acts. Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 [No 92 of 1996] - G 17602, Alleged News
[5] Life begins at Conception, says Department of Health and Human Services, Alleged News
[6] South Africa: nationwide demonstrations against the abortion law
[7] March for Life Cape Town South Africa - meet the protesters against abortion law
[8] South Africa; Pretoria prolife rally protests abortion law
[9] March for Life Cape Town South Africa - meet the protesters against abortion law [4]
[10] Mother and fetus: one entity or two separate entities? A study
[11] Election fever grips South Africa. Here is the voters guidwe to help you vote prolife
[12] South Africa affirms the sanctity of unborn life at the NAL conference
[13] Pretoria NAL conference and demonstration against abortion; meet the protesters
With thanks to lifenews.com, timeslive.co.za,iol.co.za, thefederalist.com and safflii.org,
