By Mariam Jooma Carikci
The Ophthalmology Society of South Africa (OSSA) has come under intense scrutiny following its decision to reinvite Dr. Didi Fabian from Israel to speak at conference in Sandton this Thursday, 13 February. The move has sparked outrage among South African medical professionals and activists, given Israel’s well-documented violations of medical ethics in its ongoing assault on Palestinian healthcare infrastructure.
Israel’s health authorities have been complicit in numerous grave breaches of the Hippocratic Oath. The targeting and destruction of hospitals, the incarceration of patients, and the deliberate deprivation of essential medical supplies have led to widespread suffering. Babies left to die without oxygen, wounded civilians denied access to emergency care, and medical staff persecuted for performing their duties are just a few of the horrors that have unfolded under Israel’s military actions. These acts stand in stark contradiction to the fundamental principles of medical ethics, which demand the provision of care to all, irrespective of politics or conflict.
South African healthcare professionals have long stood for justice, ethical medical practice, and the sanctity of life. Many doctors and medical organizations in the country have condemned OSSA’s decision to provide a platform to Dr. Fabian, arguing that it disregards the grave injustices committed against Palestinian patients and healthcare workers.
The South African medical community has vowed to protest against the conference, refusing to remain silent while the very essence of their profession—saving lives and alleviating suffering—is trampled upon. The decision to reinvite Dr. Fabian represents an unacceptable endorsement of the ongoing medical apartheid in Palestine, and South African medics, guided by their professional integrity, are making it clear that they will not stand idly by.
OSSA now faces a crucial decision: to uphold its commitment to ethical medical practice or to align itself with those who desecrate the values upon which the profession stands. South Africa’s medics have chosen their stance, and their voices will not be silenced.
Issued by:
Mariam Jooma Carikci
Executive Member
Media Review Network
South Africa
Johannesburg
+27 82 225 2333
