The South African Medical Association (Sama) supports a probe into the conduct of doctors who recommended fraudster Schabir Shaik for medical parole, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

"Sama wishes the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) well in their investigation and looks forward to an objective report that not only reflects the facts around the Schabir Shaik issue, but opens the door for humane and equal treatment for all terminally ill prisoners requiring medical parole," spokesperson Adele Hansen said.

The HPCSA said on Tuesday it would investigate the conduct of the doctors who compiled the reports which led to Shaik's release on March 3.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour said Shaik qualified for medical parole, as his three doctors had concluded he was "in the final phase of his terminal condition".

Many commentators, including the head of the South African Human Rights Commission, Jody Kollapen, have said Shaik's medical parole should be examined, as he qualified for it while many terminally ill prisoners did not receive the same consideration.

"The way the (law) is applied seems to be inconsistent," Kollapen said.

"A review, we feel will provide some clarity and also lay down guidelines in how medical parole is applied in practice."

HPCSA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the investigation would look only into the conduct of Shaik's doctors, and not the paroled fraudster himself.

Peters-Scheepers said that due to the public interest, the findings of the report on the doctors' conduct would be made public, but not the medical details. The HPCSA investigation follows the formal filing of a complaint by the DA spokesperson on correctional services, James Selfe. - Sapa

• This article was originally published on page 5 of The Cape Times on March 13, 2009

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