By 
Graca Machel, the widow of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, has
threatened legal action against his personal doctor, Vejay Ramlakan, over a
book that reveals previously undisclosed details of his patient.
threatened legal action against his personal doctor, Vejay Ramlakan, over a
book that reveals previously undisclosed details of his patient.
According to Africa Review,
Dr Ramlakan, headed the former South African leader’s medical team until his
death in December 2013 at the age of 95.
Dr Ramlakan, headed the former South African leader’s medical team until his
death in December 2013 at the age of 95.
He released his book,
“Mandela’s Last Years’’ on Tuesday to coincide with Mandela Day on July 18, in
honour of his memory.
“Mandela’s Last Years’’ on Tuesday to coincide with Mandela Day on July 18, in
honour of his memory.
“I condemn the book in the
strongest terms,” Ms Machel said in a statement released by her foundation.
strongest terms,” Ms Machel said in a statement released by her foundation.
“I am taking legal advice on
whether to institute legal proceedings against the author and its publisher,”
she said.
whether to institute legal proceedings against the author and its publisher,”
she said.
In the book, Ramlakan reveals
intimate details of Mandela’s health condition including those of his admission
at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital on June 8, in a “serious condition”.
intimate details of Mandela’s health condition including those of his admission
at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital on June 8, in a “serious condition”.
“On the previous night, we
surmised, a sudden ulcer bleed and concomitant lung infection had probably
caused an aspiration from blood that was being regurgitated,” an extract of the
book, published by Penguin Random House, reads.
surmised, a sudden ulcer bleed and concomitant lung infection had probably
caused an aspiration from blood that was being regurgitated,” an extract of the
book, published by Penguin Random House, reads.
The book recounts how Mandela
had to wait for 30 minutes for a backup ambulance after the one transporting
him to hospital caught fire on the highway.
had to wait for 30 minutes for a backup ambulance after the one transporting
him to hospital caught fire on the highway.
The surgeon also reveals
disagreements between Mandela’s family members and his doctors, and that a spy
camera was found in the morgue where his body was held.
disagreements between Mandela’s family members and his doctors, and that a spy
camera was found in the morgue where his body was held.
Ms Machel, who was married to
Mandela in 1998, says the book is a “breach of the doctor-patient relationship
of confidentiality”.
Mandela in 1998, says the book is a “breach of the doctor-patient relationship
of confidentiality”.
She said she would consult
the executors of his will – Justice Dikgang Moseneke, George Bizos SC and Judge
Themba Sangoni – on how “best protect Madiba’s good name and reputation”.
the executors of his will – Justice Dikgang Moseneke, George Bizos SC and Judge
Themba Sangoni – on how “best protect Madiba’s good name and reputation”.
News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)
