December 05, 2004 Sister Wilhemien Charles and the Kopanong Hospital
Embargo: Immediate release
Enquiries: John Smyth, QC - (Legal spokesperson, DFL)
Cell: +27 83 653 8804
Date: 05 December 2004
Full Hearing In Vereening Equality Court
The full hearing at which Sister Charles and other witnesses will give their
evidence will take place
ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2004 0900 HOURS
VEREENIGING MAGISTRATES’ COURTS BUILDING
(Corner of Beaconfield and Lesley Streets)
The Presiding Officer (the judge) will be Magistrate Mrs Furumele
Mr John Smyth (DFL’s legal advisor) will appear for the Complainants
The State Attorney represents the Respondents
Sister Charles, a Chief Professional Nurse with special qualifications in Theatre work, was barred from working in theatre at the Kopanang Hospital in Vereeniging because she had taken a stand on her constitutional right not to do abortion cases on the ground of her Christian beliefs. The new Equality Courts set up under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000, provide a fast-track procedure for dealing with cases of this nature. The theatre sister and Doctors for Life are claiming against the Hospital, the MEC and National Minister of Health:
An immediate order that the sister be re-instated.
An unconditional apology.
Damages for the impairment of her dignity, and for emotional and psychological suffering, in the sum of R50,000 and costs.
Orders directing the Gauteng Health Department and MEC, and the National Minister of Health to restrain unfair discriminatory practices on the ground of religion, conscience or belief at the Kopanong Hospital and at Health facilities nation-wide.
This case should produce a ground-breaking decision particularly now that the Abortion Amendment Act has passed into law. The Act is designed to enlarge the scope of abortion facilities and is bound to increase the pressure on Health Professionals to take part in abortion. The case will be reported in the Butterworth Law reports.
Doctors for Life International represents more than 1000 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practise in South Africa. DFL was founded as a South African organisation in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.
For more information, go to: www.doctorsforlifeinternational.com