PATIENTS’ LIVES MATTER BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTAL MOTTO ENHANCE GRADUATES’ ETHICAL PRACTICE THROUGH THE OATH TAKING AS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded dedication and commitment from all health care professionals involved in diagnosis and patient management. This exacerbated the practice of the foundational medical Bartholomew principles (autonomy; beneficence; non maleficence; justice) among the 2023 graduates at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) .

Both Bachelor of Health Sciences degrees, Clinical Technology and Medical Laboratory Science graduates had recently taken a solemn professional oath to commit themselves to practicing their professions within professional standards guided by UBUNTU and the HPCSA ethical guideline.  This was to ensure and instill the ethical values that will contribute to the highest commitment of care aligned with the HPCSA guidelines for independent practice.

Dr Mbatha indicated that the emerging professionals from the Clinical Technology degree will be able to independently perform diagnostic, therapeutic, and corrective procedures on patients using specialised health technology and techniques for the treatment of patho-physiological conditions in a hospital-based or in a private practice setting.

She further commented that the Medical Laboratory Science professionals are highly knowledgeable and skilled individuals that perform diagnostic tests on patient samples in a clinical laboratory and are skilled to conduct research. To emphasise the importance of ethical practice both in research, the three invited speakers spoke on the following topics:

Ms Nomthandazo Ntshangase (a Clinical Technology Neurophysiology Specialist), spoke on the Clinical Practice as a Health Care are Professional within Government and Private sectors.

Ms Akhona Vuma (HPCSA Medical Technology Board Member) focused her talk on ethics and unprofessional conduct.

Prof Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana, a  keynote speaker, spoke on: Research and Related Ethics in Professional Practice.

The first part of the event encouraged excellence through rewarding best performance academically and in research. Furthermore, building future leaders and inculcating leadership skills in students that accept roles as class representatives, a role that develops graduate attributes such as working in a team and leadership. These attributes were recognised in the form of awards. In addition, collaboration between the university and industry partners is valued in the department of biomedical and clinical technology and special awards and certificates were handed out to training institutions and units that hosted the 2023 cohort of graduates for clinical practice.

Pictured: Dr Joyce Nonhlanhla Mbatha with the Clinical Technology and Medical Laboratory Science graduates.

Article submitted by the Faculty of Health Sciences