A South African High Court has refused to hear an appeal from Wouter Basson, the former apartheid-era military doctor known as “Dr. Death,” in his latest attempt to avoid a disciplinary hearing, according to News24.
Basson had sought to block the Health Professions Council of South Africa from proceeding with a disciplinary case against him. The court’s decision means the hearing can move forward, News24 reports.
News24 states that the ruling was issued on Monday, 27 July 2026. Basson’s legal team had argued that the disciplinary process should be halted, but the High Court rejected that bid.
Basson faces allegations of unethical conduct related to his work developing chemical and biological weapons for the apartheid government’s secret Project Coast program. He was previously convicted of unprofessional conduct in 2015 but avoided jail time.
The disciplinary hearing is expected to examine whether Basson violated medical ethics during his time leading the program. News24 notes that the court’s refusal to hear the appeal clears a key procedural hurdle for the council.
What happens next: The Health Professions Council will schedule a date for the resumed disciplinary proceedings against Basson.
