DURBAN - A nurse at Durban's King Dinuzulu Hospital has been placed on precautionary suspension after a video allegedly showing her assaulting a patient went viral on social media.
In the video, the masked nurse is seen repeatedly poking the patient in the face while making inappropriate remarks.
The provincial Health Department condemned the incident, saying the conduct was “completely unacceptable” and violated the core values of the healthcare system.
“The conduct displayed in the video is completely unacceptable, violates the core values of our healthcare system, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the department said.
It said the nurse would remain on precautionary suspension pending a full internal investigation.
“Corporal punishment has no place in our facilities, and we are committed to ensuring that all patients are treated with the dignity, respect and care they deserve,” the department said.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has also condemned the incident, saying it would await the outcome of the investigation.
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