The South African Medico Legal Society

Dear Colleagues and Friends

As Executive Committee of the South African Medico Legal Society we are proud to announce that we have organised a very interesting seminar on 07 May 2005. Those of who you who do not know on the first Saturday in May and October seminars are organised for members of our Society, as well as non members.

The reasons are many to organise a seminar about medico legal matters. Firstly continued education for members of the medical and legal fraternity is a necessity to practice better and secondly, beside interesting topics, it is really good to meet the relevant people involved in medico legal practice and to get to know them better. It sharpens the academic mind and it renews social acquaintances or fosters new friendships.

Continued education by way of a seminar is in our country essential as no formal structure exists besides our Society. It tries to unite the relevant role players and communicates knowledge. Unfortunately we have in our country not enough organisational structure to publicise on a regular basis in scientific journals or publications about what is really relevant and happening in South Africa. No yearly edition of the Health Profession Council of South Africa cases to inform and educate, no structured research in the field of medical law to broaden the basis of our knowledge to come at par with sister societies abroad.

Therefore the 07 May 2005 will be a very important date for you to diarise as our next seminar and we look forward to meeting you there again, the young and the old, the experienced and the not so experienced yet.

Here are the details:

DATE: 07 May 2005, first Saturday in May

PLACE: Board Room of Rooth and Wessels, Brooklyn, Pretoria

TIME: 09:00 – 13:00

SUBJECT:- Rights and Obligations of Medical Practitioners in the light of our Constitution

SPEAKERS: Andrew Norton, attorney from Webber Wentzel Attorneys

Prof Hennie Oosthuizen of the Department of Medical Law of the University of Free State

We are indeed very honoured to have these learned speakers as our guests. We as Executive Committee have asked them especially to comment on the various aspects of the new Health Bill that surely will affect all us medico legal practitioners.

We are therefore very honoured to have as an invited guest Judge Eberhart Bertelsmann, known to many of us as a very knowledgeable speaker about several subjects on past seminars. We as Executive Committee have asked him to be present and comment on several aspects and enrich us with his knowledge.

It is clear that this seminar should not be missed, otherwise you certainly will loose out!

Please remember to pay your membership fees for 2005, which are kept at the same level as the years before, at R 750,00 per year. This contribution pays for both seminars and helps covering costs. Medical practitioners have the extra advantage of gathering ethical CPD points. Non-members will pay R 450,00 per seminar as in the past.

At the end of this seminar we will hold our General meeting of the Society to discuss the road ahead and exchange some important general and financial information. We hope that the registration of the Society as an Article 21 company will be in time to choose or confirm the directors of the company. Start collecting in your mind interesting enterprises or subjects that really would take the functioning of our Society to a new level.

You can expect another short newsletter just before the date of the seminar of 07 May 2005 with the most updated information.

Best wishes

Your president

DR & ADV ANTON H VAN DEN BOUT

EXCO MEMBERS:- Mr Albert Lamey - Vice President

Dr. Dave Barnes - Secretary

Dr. Henny Pienaar – Treasurer