Doctor stops to help accident victim, disrespected for her race

23 March 2013 - 12:41 By Sapa
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Stethoscope. File picture.
Stethoscope. File picture.
Image: Robbie Tshabalala

A doctor claimed she was disrespected because of her race by paramedics and bystanders as she tried to help a road crash victim in Johannesburg.

Last Friday, Phyllis Phukubye, 27, left Helen Joseph Hospital and headed home but had to stop when she saw a motorcycle accident victim on Douglas Road, Saturday Star reported.

When she arrived on the scene, she saw that the victim was badly hurt and many bystanders surrounded him.

Phukubye introduced herself to the victim and the people who were standing around, "mostly white people".

"I put on my gloves and attempted to assist the man. But no one seemed to believe that I was a doctor or a health professional, because they kept uttering stupid remarks in the background. They were even telling me what to do and what not to do," she told the newspaper.

Phukubye said a white lady assumed that she was a nurse and kept saying to her that her son's friend was a doctor and he was on his way to the scene.

Paramedics arrived and they also "shooed " her away even physically pushing her.

She finally walked away, assuming that the patient was in good hands.

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