South African Medical Association

SAMA statement alert: Spreading false information on the COVID-19 vaccine by doctors is unethical and illegal

 

 

SAMA STATEMENT ALERT: SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE BY DOCTORS IS UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL

The South African South Medical Association (SAMA) unequivocally supports vaccination as essential in the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and endorses the importance of scientific integrity, transparency, and public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.  

SAMA reiterates that COVID-19 poses a significant medical and public health risk, and notes with grave concern the spread of false information about COVID-19 vaccines by individuals within the medical fraternity. Medical professionals who propagate COVID-19 vaccination misinformation may discourage people from becoming vaccinated, which could lead to the preventable loss of life.  

Medical professionals have an ethical duty as articulated in the oaths that they take, to prioritise the health and well-being of their patients; to practice medicine with conscience and dignity, in line with international best practice standards and evidence-based medical practice, and to serve humanity.
 
Personal beliefs and opinions must not interfere with sound medical management. In the case of a COVID-19 vaccination that is safe, efficacious and which has been approved for use by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), medical professionals have duties as stipulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCA) to:

  • Respect patients as individuals and recognise their inherent worth, dignity, and sense of value;
  • Not cause harm or act against the best interests of patients or society, even when those interests conflict with their own;
  • Regard truth and truthfulness as the basis of trust in their professional relationships with patients; and,
  • Strive to make a positive contribution to society in accordance with their professional abilities and social position.

Furthermore, on legal grounds purposeful intent to disseminate harmful, inaccurate and false COVID-19 vaccination information that might result in preventable fatalities is an offence. In terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, Regulation 11(5) stipulates that, “any person who publishes any statement, through any medium, including social media, with the intention to deceive any other person about:
(a) COVID-19;
(b) COVID-19 infection status of any person; or
(c) any measure taken by the government to address COVID-19,

commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.”

SAMA will not support any of its members who spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. SAMA does not condone unethical and illegal behaviour by its members and calls on the HPCSA to discipline medical professionals who breach their ethical duties by proliferating COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.

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The South African Medical Association - Postal Address-The South African Medical Association P O Box 74789,Lynnwood Ridge Pretoria 0040, South Africa Physical address The South African Medical Association, Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park Nossob Street Erasmuskloof Ext3 Pretoria 0181,
South Africa www.samedical.org

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