Opinion / Columnist
Not to dehumanising other people based on nationality
25 Aug 2022 at 01:35hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Community is South Africa is dismayed by the distasteful treatment and humiliation of an obviously frail and powerless patient by Limpopo province health MEC Phophi Ramathuba.
The dehumanising treatment of the Zimbabwean patient goes against any medical ethics, let alone human rights.
It should be noted that the Hippocratic Oath describes a promise to try not to harm anyone and respect the dignity of a patient, to maintain the utmost respect for human life, not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between duty and patient.
Ironically the South African Medical Association doctor's topmost pledge says: "I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice; the health and well-being of my patient, community and my broader African communities will be my key considerations."
The filming of such degradation to the enjoyment of medical staff who should know better about their Hippocratic Oath is the lowest levels of dehumanising of another human being, let alone a sick patient just off an operation and at the mercy of such a facility.
It leaves a hollow feeling.
The recent rabid treatment including crass murder in form of live burning of our innocent compatriots needs to be stopped.
Institutionalising such treatment is a road down a generational curse of the average person thinking it is normal to treat migrants and especially Zimbabweans as sub-humans.
It is not true that Zimbabweans are cowards who have done nothing to fix their situation back home.
Indeed, the Zimbabwean government must be ashamed to cause a situation where our compatriots are now fodder for sub-human treatment.
The dehumanising treatment of the Zimbabwean patient goes against any medical ethics, let alone human rights.
It should be noted that the Hippocratic Oath describes a promise to try not to harm anyone and respect the dignity of a patient, to maintain the utmost respect for human life, not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between duty and patient.
Ironically the South African Medical Association doctor's topmost pledge says: "I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice; the health and well-being of my patient, community and my broader African communities will be my key considerations."
The filming of such degradation to the enjoyment of medical staff who should know better about their Hippocratic Oath is the lowest levels of dehumanising of another human being, let alone a sick patient just off an operation and at the mercy of such a facility.
The recent rabid treatment including crass murder in form of live burning of our innocent compatriots needs to be stopped.
Institutionalising such treatment is a road down a generational curse of the average person thinking it is normal to treat migrants and especially Zimbabweans as sub-humans.
It is not true that Zimbabweans are cowards who have done nothing to fix their situation back home.
Indeed, the Zimbabwean government must be ashamed to cause a situation where our compatriots are now fodder for sub-human treatment.
Source - NewsDay Zimbabwe
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