Johannesburg - The Health Professions Council of SA has been criticised for allowing a plastic surgeon to continue practising despite complaints of botched operations.
In the past three years, Dr Luke Gordon has paid more than R4.5 million to clients.
In 2000, 2007 and 2008, the council found him guilty after patients complained of his work.
Questions are now being asked why the health professionals’ body did not stop him from performing more operations.
However, the HPCSA said complaints against a doctor did not automatically mean he or she was guilty.
Dani Mangera*, who complained against Gordon last month, was born with prominent ears and went for surgery to have them brought closer to his face.
He had been a subject of ridicule for years.
The 28-year-old said he paid R15 000 cash at Gordon’s Metamorphosis Clinic. However, he got the shock of his life when the dressing came off - he said his ears looked unnatural and were deformed.
“They were worse off and the taunting happened again, I was being called Dr Spock (a character from Star Trek with pointy ears).
“I was very embarrassed and used to cover my ears with a beanie. I don’t think I looked at myself in the mirror as much as I used to,” Mangera said.
Other doctors said the surgery had not been done well.
Gordon has since reimbursed Mangera R11 000 of his R15 000.
Mangera said he had three more operations to fix his ears, at a cost of R42 000.
The doctors had told him there was not much more they could do.
“After seeing... articles in The Star, I asked myself why the HPCSA had not taken action on him (Gordon). Why do they allow him to practise?
“I spoke to a lawyer about the possibility of suing Dr Gordon and he said I would be wasting my time as his insurance had run out, and if my ears were still on my head, I should be thankful.
“I am so depressed… I feel like I was ungrateful for my ears for trying to change them, whereas other people can’t even hear and are deaf. But it is done and I will have to live with it,” he said.
Myrna Bothma paid more than R60 000 for a tummy tuck, liposuction and a breast lift.
After surgery, she had sagging breasts with big scars underneath, nipples that were scarred, and more scars on her bellybutton, Bothma said.
Her tummy was big and the liposuction had not been performed.
Bothma claimed the HPCSA appeared not to care about what Gordon was doing.
Lawyer Gary Austin accused the council of dragging its feet while people were being affected by what he termed “gross negligence”.
He said he had dealt with a few of Gordon’s clients and helped them secure millions in compensation.
“It appears they may have lost two of the complaints and never investigated them. Had we not chased the HPCSA, the matters would have been neglected.
“We are considering launching high court proceedings against the HPCSA,” said Austin.
The council said it had received 12 complaints over the years. Nine were related to Gordon’s competence as a doctor. He was found guilty in three cases and fined R10 000 in one, and received suspended sentences in the other two.
HPCSA spokeswoman Bertha Scheepers-Peters said: “The professional conduct committee, in a ruling against Dr Gordon, ordered that he had to undergo additional training, and he has undergone additional training.”
Gordon declined to comment on the story.
*Not his real name
botho.molosankwe @inl.co.za
The Star