"Treat patients with dignity'

»» Follows viral video about uncaring staff’.

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The dean of Wits University's faculty of health sciences, Prof Shabir Madhi, has urged all of the university's students deployed at public health facilities to treat patients with dignity, compassion and respect.

This follows a viral video exposing the deteriorating state of Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg and allegedly uncaring and unprofessional conduct by doctors and nurses.

The professor said the faculty was "fully aware of the ailing infrastructure and shortage of health care workers across most health care facilities in Gauteng" as well as the challenges faced by health care workers in the state system.

Madhi's comments follow a viral video posted by former broadcaster Tom London, which highlighted the poor state of both facilities and treatment at many state hospitals.

London spoke about "uncaring" staff, saying he lay for a day in his "faeces" at the state hospital.

He added: "Two days ago a team of young doctors came to do a lumbar puncture on [a patient in a bed near to me]. While they were sticking needles in him and he was screaming like an animal - they were discussing their bonuses and cars. The doctors who run around here treat the patients like cockroaches."

He said the attitude went from the medical students right up to the top of the hospital.

"I have never seen a level of disrespect from human beings like this in my life," he said on the video.