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Healthcare News | Medico-Legal Affairs
Peter Beale Acquitted
Time to read: 00:47
Breaking News: 5 March 2025
Paediatric surgeon Dr Peter Beale has been acquitted of murder and fraud charges in a case that tested the criminal liability of healthcare professionals.
His acquittal was welcomed by the medical community but left parents devastated, particularly Mohammadh Sayed, whose 10-year-old son died following a routine acid reflux procedure.
Beale had been accused of recklessly performing unnecessary surgeries to recover financial losses from a Ponzi scheme. However, the court found no financial motive and accepted his claim of human error in misreading biopsy results.
The case has reignited concerns over criminalising medical errors, with the Medical Protection Society (MPS) warning it could deter doctors from practising. In response to growing pressure, the South African Law Reform Commission is investigating legal accountability in healthcare.
The National Prosecuting Authority is reviewing the verdict. At the same time, the court has referred Beale’s case to the Health Professions Council of SA after he admitted leaving a critically ill child under his care.
This story was compiled from various sources including:
5 March 2025 | News24 |Celebration and disappointment as renowned surgeon Peter Beale acquitted of murder
5 March 2025 | TimesLive | Paediatric surgeon Prof Peter Beale not guilty of murder and fraud
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