A LIMPOPO doctor has been found guilty of having sex with a patient, in his consulting room, and later issuing her with a fraudulent medical certificate.
Dr Nndanduleni Tseisi of Louis Trichardt appeared before the Health Professions Council of South Africa's professional conduct committee in Pretoria yesterday.
His attorney, Advocate Hendrick De Kock, repeatedly told the committee: "Tseisi realises that what he did was wrong."
Tseisi had previously told the committee, having chosen not to elect a legal representative, that the woman in question, Ntombizodwa Ndou, forced him to have sex with her at his practice.
He said he impregnated her and she gave birth in 2009. He described how she allegedly stalked him and made life miserable after the pregnancy.
In July proceedings were postponed so that the prosecutor, Advocate Meshack Mapholisa, could call Ndou to testify.
"I requested a postponement so I can call the complainant. Subsequently to that I was contacted by Advocate De Kock and we had a post-trial meeting. He said Dr Tseisi persists that he intends to plead guilty. We agreed that there was no need to call the complainant."
De Kock said: "At the end of the day, Dr Tseisi realises that what he did was wrong. He met the patient prior to her being a patient. This is a mitigating circumstance. He continued having a relationship after he found out that she was a patient and he realises that this is wrong.
"His conduct speaks of self-rehabilitation."
Arguing in mitigation, De Kock said Tseisi previously said: "This lady used to force me to do things with her. She used to threaten me. She would come into my consulting room uninvited and say, 'do this to me or I will not leave' or she would threaten to scream.
"She cost me a lot. I had to compromise many things while trying to protect myself, my patients and my family."
De Kock said this was demeaning to Tseisi.
He described how, after the pregnancy, Ndou would demand money from him and claimed she would throw a tantrum when he would not oblige. The relationship lasted between 2008 and 2010.
Tseisi was slapped with a three-year suspension.
"The operation of which will be suspended for five years provided that you are not found guilty on similar charges," said Kevin O'Brien, chairman of the six-member committee including a legal assessor.