The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has placed a lifetime ban on endocrinologist Dr Gregory Hough, removing his name from its medical register.
Lifetime ban announced
This means he is no longer allowed to work as a doctor in South Africa.
According to News24, the decision comes after years of complaints from former patients and public pressure, including petitions and protests.
Hough has been accused of multiple sexual assaults and inappropriate behaviour while treating women.
Background of the case
Hough first came under scrutiny in 2020, when the HPCSA received complaints from several patients who accused him of touching them inappropriately during medical consultations.
In 2021, he was found guilty on five counts of unprofessional conduct and suspended from practicing medicine for 18 months.
However, the suspension was temporary, and many activists argued that it was too lenient.
A Change.org petition calling for his permanent removal gained more than 13,000 signatures, with campaigners insisting that a doctor found guilty of sexual assault should never again be allowed to treat patients.
Why the HPCSA acted now
The latest ruling follows additional complaints and a second guilty finding against Hough for unprofessional conduct.
The HPCSA concluded that he showed no remorse and continued his alleged misconduct even after his first suspension.
The council described his behaviour as serious enough to justify permanent removal from the profession.
“The best interests of patients and the public must come first,” the council noted.
The news has been met with relief by activists who campaigned for years to stop Hough from practising.
However, some remain concerned that he could use the courts to overturn the decision. Campaigners say the ruling sends a strong message about accountability in the medical profession, especially at a time when South Africa continues to grapple with high rates of gender-based violence.
