Doctors Should Prescribe ARVs for rape survivors

[Guest guest]

SAMA calls for ARVs for rape survivors

Doctors Should Prescribe Anti-Retrovirals, say Medical Association

South African Press Association (Johannesburg)

January 15, 2002: [Posted to the web January 16, 2002. Pretoria]

The SA Medical Association (SAMA) on Tuesday came out in support of

its member doctors who prescribed anti-retroviral drugs to rape

victims in contravention of government policy.

" Doctors are obliged to act in the best interests of their patients, "

said SAMA human rights, law, and ethics committee chairman Dr Anant

Chetty.

" Government policy does not determine medical ethics. "

In terms of official policy, public hospitals and clinics are not

allowed to give anti-retroviral drugs to rape victims, as the

government maintains there is no evidence they are effective.

SAMA, however, was of the opinion that the drugs were beneficial,

Chetty said. " There is evidence that this is a worthwhile exercise. "

It would therefore be unethical of a doctor not to at least inform a

patient of the benefits of anti-retroviral drugs.

SAMA, the only representative body of South African doctors,

reiterated its support for the right of medical practitioners to

clinical independence and autonomy.

This included the right to treat patients without undue influence,

pressure or victimisation from employers or government institutions.

" The SAMA also supports the rights of patients to receive necessary

treatment, always with their informed consent, " the organisation said

in a statement.

" This includes the rights of pregnant women who are HIV-positive to

receive the best available treatment that has been proven to reduce

mother-to-child transmission. This principle should apply to rape

survivors. "

Chetty said the body would support any of its members who got into

trouble for prescribing anti-retrovirals.

SAMA represents some 17000 doctors, two-thirds of which are employed

in the public sector.

Last week, opposition politicians expressed disgust at the Northern

Cape government's response to a doctor's decision to give anti-

retroviral drugs to an 11-month-old gang-rape victim.

Northern Cape Health MEC Dipuo s reportedly lambasted the

Kimberley provincial hospital after media reports revealed the child

had been giventhe anti-retroviral drug AZT.

The hospital subsequently issued a circular reminding doctors they

were barred from administering the drug to rape patients.

It was claimed the hospital had a policy of administering the drugs,

but had to change it when the government intervened.

The Northern Cape baby was raped and indecently assaulted by six men

in Louisvale in November when she was nine months old.

The girl, named " Tshepang " (have hope) to hide her identity, has

since been transferred to the Red Cross children's hospital in Cape

Town, where she is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery.

The government is also involved in litigation against the Greater

Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project, which hands out anti-retroviral

drugs to rape victims at six hospitals in the greater Nelspruit area.

The case is pending.

____________________

Asia

asia@...

ACT UP Philadelphia

Health GAP Coalition

_________________