Clinical Associates treating patients at Lenmed Hospital

A clinical associate, filling in for the physician in the ward, attended to the patient and issued a prescription for medication telephonically to a nurse acting on behalf of the patient. This raises questions regarding whether such actions are permitted under South African law and whether they are in line with Lenmed Hospital’s internal policies. It also prompts concern about whether this practice extends to follow-up visits across various hospital disciplines and patient categories, and whether clinical associates are increasingly taking on roles traditionally performed by doctors at Lenmed Hospitals.