Natasha Naidoo

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Court declares regulations on complementary medicines & health supplements unlawful

This blog was co-authored by Lisa Kriegler, Trainee Associate The Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the Minister of Health and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in favour of the South African Alliance of Natural Health Products.  The Alliance brought an application to set aside the 25 August 2017 General … Continue reading

Duty to protect the public prevails over a healthcare practitioner’s need to practice

A gynaecologist and obstetrician, appeared before the Professional Conduct Committee of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) on charges lodged against him by his patient, Mrs M. He pleaded guilty to 2 out of 7 counts of alleged unprofessional misconduct, and was found guilty only of the 2 counts which he pleaded guilty … Continue reading

HPCSA – primary guardian of morals of the health profession

On 15 January 2021 the Supreme Court of Appeal handed down a judgment which pronounced on the jurisdiction of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a medical malpractice watchdog and the primary guardian of morals of the health profession. The judgment confirmed that the HPCSA’s jurisdiction is not limited to the conduct … Continue reading

Personalised medicine and medical malpractice

Personalised medicine involves the consideration of health risk factors and genetic information to determine individual risk profiles. This customisation of healthcare uses medical decisions, practices, treatments, and products that are tailor-made to an individual’s requirements, and is based on hereditary profile. This could result in quicker diagnosis and a more targeted form of treatment for … Continue reading

Think twice before rejecting a Calderbank offer

In May 2019 the Bloemfontein High Court confirmed that a secret offer which is made by any party to a damages claim (including the plaintiff) to save costs will affect the costs order.  Such an offer is known as a Calderbank offer with origins in English law and similar principles apply in the South African … Continue reading

What’s on the horizon for the insurance industry in 2019?

Our lawyers across ten jurisdictions have created a guide detailing the top legal concerns for insurers from various regions. Some developments are concerns only in a specific market while other topics appear to be common across several jurisdictions. Increasing focus on personal accountability, greater oversight of distribution chains and the protection of customer interests and … Continue reading

Personalised medicine: Implications for the insurance industry and for consumers

Personalised medicine is set to revolutionise the manner in which patients are diagnosed and treated. It involves genetic testing and a consideration of an individual’s health risk factors and genetic information and tailoring medical treatment accordingly. Such testing could lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment, but it does not come cheaply. It is unclear whether … Continue reading

The effect of legalisation of cannabis on the insurance industry

The legalization of private cultivation, possession and the use of cannabis in South Africa has had the effect of changing the law which will undoubtedly require transformation in the insurance industry. The Constitutional Court in Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince (and others) has given Parliament 24 months to amend current … Continue reading
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