THE head of the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) of the Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA), Joan Adams, has distanced herself from the council's bungle in declaring Tim Noakes guilty months before final arguments have been heard.
On Friday, the HPCSA announced that Noakes was guilty of unprofessional conduct by advising a breastfeeding mother to wean her baby on to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.
Minutes later they retracted the statement, because the matter has not been finalised.
Noakes’ legal team rested their case on Wednesday and agreement was that the PCC would deliberate in April next year; judgment is expected on April 21.
In an extraordinary move, the chairperson, advocate Adams, sent out a statement distancing the committee from the press release, saying it was in the interest of justice to so: “This is devoid of all truth… The PCC will deliberate in April 2017 after hearing argument."
Noakes’ legal counsel Adam Pike said yesterday they were writing to the HPCSA asking how it was that the press release had even been written, let alone sent out.