Telemedicine: A South African Legal Perspective
Tydskrif vir Suid-Afrikaanse Reg (TSAR) 2008 (1) 99-114
16 Pages Posted: 12 May 2014
Date Written: May 10, 2008
Abstract
This article considers telemedicine practices in South Africa from a legal perspective. The first section of the article will provide the reader with definitions of the basic terms and different classifications in e-health, including telehealth, telemedicine (teledermatology, teleradiology, telepathology, real-time vs store-and-forward facilities, telehomecare or telemonitoring), cybermedicine and cybersurgery. This article will focus mainly on telemedicine. After the brief introduction to the field of e-health and in particular telemedicine, the article will continue to examine the use of telemedicine services in South Africa, followed by a brief consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of telemedicine, especially the difficulties currently encountered with reimbursement, registration, jurisdiction, liability and the applicable standard of care. The establishment of a doctor-patient relationship in the telemedicine industry will then be discussed with specific reference to South African law.
Keywords: Telemedicine, South Africa, e-Health, Doctor-patient relationship, Medical practice
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation