By Dr Gale Ure
Gale holds doctorates in Psychology (RAU) and Bioethics & Health Law (Wits). A PEPFAR fellow and honorary lecturer at Wits Medical School’s Steve Biko Centre, she is also a member of the Association of Death Education and Counselling and the South African Association of Health Educationalists.
Her work focuses on ethical decision-making at the end of life and the role of healthcare practitioners in navigating the complex space between treatment, care, and death.
Gale says: “Removing access to life-saving care without warning or allowing a time period for handover is simply unethical and criminal. A country that demonstrates its power by harming the vulnerable for its own gain isn’t worthy of respect – but it is certainly worthy of disdain. South Africa has rightly sought to collaborate with Europe and Asia, as well as working with national funding and research streams to ensure that the rights of the users of these vital services are not compromised in the short term. It is a lesson learned. We need to ensure that we have the capacity to provide necessary healthcare for all South African citizens long-term, without disruption.”
