Any patient-related information within the doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct, and must be respected, even after death. A Cape Times report says the SA Medical Association (Sama) said this following the release – and subsequent withdrawal – of a book detailing the last days of former President Nelson Mandela. The book was written by former SANDF surgeon-general Dr Vejay Ramlakan, who was part of the medical team treating Mandela in the months before his death.

Penguin Random House SA made the decision to pull the book out of respect for Mandela’s family. This after the family said it had been kept in the dark as to who could have authorised the publication of the book. Sama chairperson Mzukisi Grootboom said the issue was clear: ‘All doctors are reminded of their ethical responsibilities to patients, regardless of who they are. The core ethical tenet of the doctor-patient relationship is the principle of confidentiality. In the now no longer used Hippocratic Oath, it refers to secrets in the doctor-patient relationship as being ‘holy’. Perhaps of greater relevance, the Geneva Declaration – used by most doctors in their oath-taking – contains the line: “I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died”,’ Grootboom said.

Full Cape Times report (subscription needed)

Those who managed to get their hands on the book before it was taken off the shelves could possibly have laid their hands on a gem, says a TimesLIVE report. One man who bought the book for less than R300 said he had received several offers from people willing to take it off his hands. ‘I bought it for R276 I think. So far‚ I have been offered $700 for it‚’ Delane Kalembo is quoted in the report as saying. While several South Africans have made offers for the book‚ Kalembo said much of the interest came from people outside the borders of SA. ‘The interest is from internationals since most people have caught wind of the story‚’ he said.

Full TimesLIVE report