Conviction of doctor for cyberbullying sets dangerous precedent for healthcare in Zimbabwe
The Harare magistrates court recently found Lenon Gwaunza guilty of cyberbullying after he accused fellow medical doctor
Andrew Mataruse of wrongfully posing as a neurologist.
This decision sets a dangerous precedent for healthcare in Zimbabwe.
By characterising whistleblowing as cyberbullying, the courts have inadvertently put patients' lives at risk. It shouldn’t be this way.
Mataruse’s credentials do not qualify him to practice as a neurologist, and the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe acknowledges this.
The world over, including in Zimbabwe, being a neurologist involves training in both theory and practicals.
You write theory exams, then do practicals in a recognised training centre.
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Zimbabwe currently does not have a recognised neurology training centre, all neurologists are trained in other countries.
Admittedly, I have not seen the court documents, neither am I a lawyer or possess any legal knowledge.
I have no idea what information the magistrate had and what arguments prevailed in court.
I am just speaking as a doctor worried about the ramifications of this court ruling to patient safety. These are just my opinions, formed as the case evolved, and doing a little research.
I don’t think this case should have spilled into the courts.
The case began when Gwaunza wrote emails to other doctors stating
Mataruse was not qualified to supervise another Neurologist when he wasn't a Neurologist himself.
Mataruse subsequently sued Gwaunza for defamation and cyberbullying. Having worked with both doctors, I can attest to their brilliance in their fields.
It would seem these gentlemen rubbed each other the wrong way and failed to de-escalate matters.
It is unfortunate the matter spilled into the courts. But here we are!
The qualifications Mataruse puts up as proof that he is a neurologist are theory exams with no practical component.
To become a neurologist involves passing these entry exams then going for practicals.
The World Federation of Neurology has a list of recognised neurology training centres, none of which Mataruse attended.
On top of qualifications to become a specialist physician, Mataruse holds a Msc in Clinical Neurology from University College London, Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Neurology from the Royal Colleges of Physicians- United Kingdom, and is a fellow of the European Board of Neurology.
As high and lofty as this all sounds, this does not make one a neurologist.
These are theory exams that should be combined with practicals in an approved training centre.
An Msc in clinical neurology is often used as a qualifying exam to start neurology training.
Msc denotes that it is not a clinical exam, meaning it doesn't make one a practitioner of the specialty.
In the same way, someone with a Msc in Cardiology cannot practice as a cardiologist.
The Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) from the Royal College of Physicians carries similar limitations.
This is an excerpt from a Royal College of Physicians Journal in 2010 talking about the Specialty Certificate Exam (SCE) in Neurology, “The SCE covers only the knowledge component of the specialist curriculum, other elements (clinical skills and attitude/conduct) being assessed in the workplace.
It is NOT, therefore, an ‘exit exam’ but one of several tests of competence.
Passing candidates obtain a certificate, but only those obtaining a full neurology Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) may use the title Neurologist.”
According to the Royal College of Physicians, for Mataruse to be a neurologist he needed to do some practicals, followed by assessments in approved workplaces, then obtain a certificate of completion of training (CCT).
A SCE certificate on its own, like the one Mataruse has put forward, falls short of these requirements.
His fellowship of the European Board of Neurology, obtained after taking an online exam, also only demonstrates theoretical knowledge, bereft of any practicals.
On their website, the board state that the diploma “ is of no consequence” noting that they assume candidates who take the exam have completed training in clinical neurology.
Passing neurology theory exams without doing the practicals component does not make one a neurologist.
The Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe register reflects this, and thus has not registered Mataruse as a neurologist.
It is inconceivable that the courts would ignore all this, and label exposing a critical truth as cyberbullying.
The dangers of a doctor practicing beyond the scope of their training cannot be overstated. No one wants to be operated on by a Surgeon who hasn't been trained in surgery.
It's no secret that Mataruse is a brilliant specialist physician, but his claims to be a neurologist are misleading.
Many of the qualifications he puts up as grounds to be a neurologist are theory exams that require him to do practicals to qualify and practice as a neurologist.
It is my fervent hope that after the frantic visits to the courts are done, these gents can catch a breath and ruminate on finding ways to channel their brilliance away from the courts and into our hospitals, hospitals that are in dire need of their expertise.
