Cape Town – An American neurosurgeon, Dr Tristram Horton, has reportedly been suspended from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)’s register due to allegations of endangering patients’ lives during surgeries at various hospitals in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Horton’s troubles were highlighted by investigative journalism on Carte Blanche, revealing previous malpractice allegations in the US.
Carte Blanche revealed that Horton’s US medical license was suspended due to allegations of performing unsuccessful brain surgeries prior to his arrival in South Africa.
UPDATE: DR TRISTRAM HORTON
Earlier this month we investigated American doctor Tristram Horton, an unlicenced neurosurgeon operating on patients in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. He was facing serious and multiple allegations of medical malpractice. This week, the Medical and Dental… pic.twitter.com/VPh7neQBjG— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 30, 2024
The HPCSA found irregularities in Horton’s registration application, leading to his suspension, Benoni City Times reported.
The HPCSA’s communications manager, Priscilla Sekhonyana, said that Horton’s medical registration application failed to meet regulatory requirements because he did not provide a certificate of good standing from the foreign registration authority where he was previously registered.
“He did not submit the Education Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates report confirming his professional registration with the foreign regulatory body,” the report quoted Sekhonyana as saying.
In June, #CarteBlanche asked how American neurosurgeon, Tristram Horton, was able to practice in several private hospitals across Gauteng. This despite having been suspended for misconduct and allegedly performing surgeries while under the influence in the States. Now, two senior… https://t.co/D13QkIWXcY pic.twitter.com/mbwB1FVk0t
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) August 10, 2024
Horton was employed at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in 2021, followed by stints at Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park and Netcare Linmed in Benoni in 2023, before moving on to practice at Mediclinic Newcastle, said the report.
Victims, including Mathibela Ramoshaba and Marcia Cronje, shared harrowing experiences on Carte Blanche of botched surgeries, resulting in severe complications.
Mathibila underwent brain surgery in October last year to fix a blood clot in his brain. Instead, his neurosurgeon – Dr Tristram Horton – cut off the blood supply to part of his brain. Mathabile woke up paralysed. #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/jXIKicX7TS
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 9, 2024
Marcia Cronje experienced seizures due to an aggressive brain tumour. In October last year, Dr Tristram Horton said he successfully removed it. But this doctor confirms the tumour was “never even touched”. #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/OcB3ietxAH
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 9, 2024
Hospitals like Netcare Linmed and Arwyp Medical Centre have since revoked Horton’s privileges pending investigations and compliance reviews with regulatory standards, the report said.
One doctor we spoke to – we’ll call him David – says stories about neurosurgeon Dr Tristram Horton were doing the rounds among medical staff. So, why did the HPCSA fail to act? #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/nmL7ASyKZd
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 9, 2024
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
