Cancer patients win interdict to keep dismissed ‘miracle worker’ oncologist at Vincent Pallotti despite his 'fetishes'

Seventeen cancer patients who attribute their still being alive to the “miracle work” of oncologist Dr Louis Kathan have obtained a provisional interdict against the Life Healthcare group after Kathan was dismissed for harassment.

The interdict, issued by Judge Derek Wille on Monday, will keep Kathan’s admission and practising privileges at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital in place until the decision to dismiss him as the chief medical officer for the group can be subjected to judicial review.

Craig Koekemoer, business operations executive for Life Healthcare Holdings, explained in papers before the court that the professional staff at the hospital’s radiotherapy unit had very scarce skills and were highly sought after.

He said two of the staff members in this unit had resigned and cited Kathan’s behaviour as the reason for them leaving. He said there was “strong and alarming evidence” that Kathan was harassing staff members.

In the first instance, Kathan used a racial slur, and in the second, he used a homophobic word. Koekemoer continued that Kathan was accused of “making a myriad of statements regarding his fetish for blondes, lap dances and various allusions to strip clubs”.

Kathan admitted the statements, but said his intention was not to harass anyone, impair the dignity of anybody, or cause them harm.

After his dismissal, he lodged an internal appeal which was dismissed. He also filed a complaint that it was he who was being harassed by those who complained about him.

“While litigation was pending about his position at the hospital, Life Healthcare appointed a chaperone to go around with Kathan,” Koekemoer said.

“The chaperone has not been entirely successful in protecting the radiation therapy unit’s staff, as Kathan had threatened and intimidated them,” he said.

He also complained that Kathan has “solicited support” from colleagues, subordinates, patients and service providers. Life Healthcare has received 68 letters of support for Kathan.

Some of these letters state that on the medical side, Kathan is “unmatched and forward-thinking” and often finds solutions where others do not.

The dispute between Kathan and the Life Healthcare group has been sent for private mediation, which was not successful and is not before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). 

Kathan is suing the hospital for breach of contract. He brought a similar application to that of his patients, but this was dismissed by the court for lack of urgency.

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