A Harare-based doctor, Lenon Gwaunza, has been convicted of cyberbullying after sending an email to a colleague, Dr. Andrew Mataruse, in which he labelled him an unqualified neurologist, <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/harare-medical-doctor-convicted-for-bullying-colleague/">reported ZimLive</a>.
Gwaunza was convicted following a trial presided over by Magistrate Batsiraishe Zishiri. He has been remanded out of custody and is awaiting sentencing on December 20.
Gwaunza apologized for his actions, saying he did not intend to bully Mataruse. The state successfully demonstrated that Gwaunza’s email, which was copied to other doctors, falsely claimed Mataruse was not a qualified clinical neurologist. The message stated:
<blockquote>
I was volunteering at Pari and I have from immediate effect relinquished that role, so I will be unable to supervise Dr. Mushawarima.
Secondly, Dr. Mushawarima is a fully fledged neurologist who doesn’t need to be supervised by myself or by Dr. Mataruse who isn’t a clinically-trained neurologist.
However, council feels it’s in Dr. Mushawarima’s interest that he is supervised by someone who has never seen the entrance of a neurology training centre.
Please, by all means, go ahead. I will not be involved in that circus.
</blockquote>
Mataruse has many post-graduate qualifications including MMed Medicine(UZ), Fellow College of Physicians (Eastern Central Southern Africa College of Physicians), Master of Science in Clinical Neurology (University College London), Specialist Certificate in Clinical neurology (Royal College of Physicians) and Fellow of the European Board Neurology.
Mataruse supervised Gwaunza during his senior registrar year in 2020, a role assigned by the Medical and Dental Profession Council of Zimbabwe.
In her ruling, the magistrate noted that Gwaunza did not dispute making the false statement about Mataruse’s qualifications.
The court emphasized that Gwaunza was aware of Mataruse’s qualifications due to their supervisory relationship and stated that only the council could determine a practitioner’s training and registration status.
In mitigation, Gwaunza argue that he is serving the community by engaging in volunteer specialist work at Mpilo Hospital and imprisonment would hinder his ability to serve the community.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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A doctor named Lenon Gwaunza was convicted of cyberbullying for sending a mean email to another doctor, Andrew Mataruse. In the email, he said Mataruse was not qualified. The court found that Gwaunza's email was false and hurtful. Mataruse has many qualifications in neurology. Gwaunza apologized but is waiting for his punishment. The court said only the council can decide if someone is qualified. Gwaunza argued that going to jail would stop him from helping the community. The court will decide his sentence on December 20.

Harare-Based Doctor Convicted Of Cyberbullying A Colleague

Masvingo Regional Magistrate Bishard Chineka has acquitted the Masvingo Provincial Hospital Medical Superintend Dr Noel Ralph Zulu who was facing a culpable homicide charge after leaving a 30cmx30cm gauze inside a patient’s stomach.
According to <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/dr-zulu-discharged/">The Mirror</a>, Dr Zulu was acquitted on Wednesday, 25 September, following an application for discharge at the end of the State case made by his lawyer Oliver Marwa last Wednesday.
Magistrate Chineka acquitted Zulu after Dr Godfrey Zimbwa who performed the post-mortem on Gladys Sibanda concluded that the cause of her death was liver cirrhosis.
The court also ruled that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Sibanda’s death was caused by the gauze left in her abdomen in 2015.
Zulu was facing a culpable homicide charge as defined in Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
Prosecutors had alleged it was Zulu’s negligence that led to the death of the woman.
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Surgical gauze is a type of medical fabric used primarily for wound care and surgical procedures. It can be used to cover wounds, control bleeding, and provide a barrier to infection.
Allegations were that the gauze remained in Gladys Sibanda’s abdomen for eight years from the date of the surgical operation in October 2015 to July 15 2023 when she collapsed and died while coming from a ZANU PF rally in Zaka.
The court heard that the deceased complained of chest pains and swelling abdomen soon after the surgical procedure and went back to Zulu who demanded another fee to do a second surgical operation.
However, the deceased could not raise the amount until she passed on, alleges the State.
The gauze was discovered by Dr Zimbwa when he carried out a postmortem on the deceased on July 18, 2023, and noted that it had puss. Reads the State outline:
<blockquote>
The State will allege that the cause of the now deceased’s death was the retained surgical gauze/abdominal swab which was found lodged in the deceased’s abdomen.
The State further alleges that it was through the accused’s negligence that the surgical gauze was retained in the now deceased’s abdomen after the surgical operation by the accused.
The accused failed to exercise skill and duty of care required of a medical practitioner and surgeon in the manner he left the surgical gauze in the now deceased’s abdomen.
Sibanda died with a grossly distented abdomen, no external injuries, plus or minus five (5) litres of blood stained peritoneal fluid, significant amount of altered blood on omentum, a shrunken pale liver and retained abdominal swab with puss noted.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>
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A doctor named Dr Zulu was accused of causing a patient's death by leaving gauze in her stomach during surgery. But after investigation, the court decided that the patient actually died from a liver problem, not from the gauze. The doctor was acquitted (found not guilty) of the crime of causing the patient's death. The gauze was found after the patient died, and the doctor was accused of being negligent. The court ruled there was not enough evidence to blame the doctor for the death. The gauze was left inside the patient's stomach for eight years before it was discovered.

Masvingo Doctor Acquitted Of Culpable Homicide Charge After Botched Operation

The Masvingo Provincial Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Noel Ralph Zulu is accused of causing the death of a woman he operated on after he allegedly left a 30x30cm gauze in her abdomen.
As reported by <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/patient-dies-as-masvingo-doc-leaves-gauze-in-abdomen/">The Mirror</a>, Zulu who is the only surgeon in Masvingo, appeared before Regional Magistrate Bishard Chineka on Wednesday facing a culpable homicide charge as defined in Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
Prosecutors allege it is Zulu’s negligence that led to the death of the woman.
Surgical gauze is a type of medical fabric used primarily for wound care and surgical procedures. It can be used to cover wounds, control bleeding, and provide a barrier to infection.
It is alleged that the gauze remained in Gladys Sibanda’s abdomen for eight years from the date of the surgical operation in October 2015 to July 15 2023 when she collapsed and died while coming from a ZANU PF rally in Zaka.
Zulu is represented by Oliver Marwa of Tabana and Marwa legal practitioners while the State is represented by Mike Tembo.
The court heard that the deceased complained of chest pains and swelling abdomen soon after the surgical procedure and went back to Zulu who demanded another fee to do a second surgical operation.
However, the deceased could not raise the amount until she passed on, alleges the State.
The gauze was discovered by Dr Godfrey Zimbwa when he carried out a postmortem on the deceased on July 18, 2023, and noted that it had puss. Reads the State outline:
<blockquote>
The State will allege that the cause of the now deceased’s death was the retained surgical gauze/abdominal swab which was found lodged in the deceased’s abdomen.
The State further alleges that it was through the accused’s negligence that the surgical gauze was retained in the now deceased’s abdomen after the surgical operation by the accused.
The accused failed to exercise skill and duty of care required of a medical practitioner and surgeon in the manner he left the surgical gauze in the now deceased’s abdomen.
Sibanda died with a grossly distented abdomen, no external injuries, plus or minus five (5) litres of blood stained peritoneal fluid, significant amount of altered blood on omentum, a shrunken pale liver and retained abdominal swab with puss noted.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A doctor in Masvingo is accused of causing a woman's death by leaving a cloth in her belly after surgery. The doctor is being charged with a serious crime called culpable homicide. The cloth was found in the woman's stomach eight years after the surgery, and she died because of it. The doctor is said to have been careless and did not do his job properly. The woman complained of pain after the surgery, but the doctor asked for more money to fix the mistake. In the end, the woman couldn't afford the surgery and died.

Masvingo Doctor Faces Culpable Homicide Charge After Alleged Surgical Mistake

A prominent Kwekwe-based medical doctor, Conway Zengeza, died on Sunday after he was reportedly stung by wasps at his home.
A colleague who preferred anonymity told <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/prominent-kwekwe-medical-doctor-dies-after-being-stung-by-wasps/">NewZimbabwe.com</a> that Zengeza was attacked by the insects while switching off lights in his garage. He said:
<blockquote>
We gathered that he wanted to switch off lights in his garage…he was then stung before he was rushed to Topomasi Private Hospital where he died.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Media Association (ZIMA) Midlands province president, Dr Ngwenya, also confirmed Zengeza’s death. He said:
<blockquote>
The 8th of January 2023 was not a good morning to us as doctors, as people, as the Midlands Community and beyond the Midlands Community.
It will forever be remembered for the pains we are suffering following the sudden passing on of one of the prominent and illustrious doctors.
We have really lost as a country, we have lost as a profession.
</blockquote>
Zengeza was ZIMA former president.

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