Durban - Durban advocate Rob Sichel, who was suing a local dermatologist, claiming she failed to recognise that he had a malignant melanoma two years ago, died last week.
His attorney, Michael Friedman, said Sichel, 52, who built up a busy practice in the six years he worked as an advocate, died at his Glenwood home last Thursday.
Last month, just three days after being discharged from hospital after having brain surgery, he arrived at the Durban High Court to give his evidence in his civil damages claim so it could be transcribed to be preserved and used when the trial was formally set down.
Diagnosed with stage four cancer and after being told in March that he had only weeks to live, he launched an urgent application for his evidence to be heard “on commission”.
When his evidence was heard by Judge Rashid Vahed, Sichel said he had been told he had only about six weeks to live
.His claim is against the popular Glenwood dermatologist practice, Dylan Naidoo Incorporated, and the dermatologist who treated him. Both have denied that Sichel’s condition was misdiagnosed. They say he refused treatment by storming out.
In keeping with the Jewish faith, Sichel was interred last Friday. He leaves behind a son, Jared.
Friedman said there was still no date for the civil trial.
The Mercury