Medical Association agrees to investigate Biko’s death

After a two week judicial inquest under presiding magistrate Mr. Marthinus Prins, it was found that no particular person could be blamed for the death of Steve Biko. The case was then submitted to the South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) for further investigation. The Medical Association of South Africa (MASA) gave the green light to its ethical committee to conduct a public investigation into Steve Biko's death on 13 November 1980. This happened following public outcry against the official explanation of the cause of his death on 12 September 1977. The SAMDC conducted an investigation, which found no doctor guilty of unprofessional medical conduct, though they did find that a medical certificate issued by district surgeon Dr Lang was 'unsatisfactory and incomplete, if not a deliberate suppression of the facts'. As the committee did not have subpoena powers, it did not attempt to establish whether the doctors involved were guilty of disgraceful or unprofessional conduct. It did, however, made some recommendations to improve the medical treatment of detainees.  The Executive Committee of MASA expressed full support of the SAMDC's report. The finding was greeted with anger within South Africa and internationally. The National Medical and Dental Association (NAMDA), a new and alternative organisation formed by 52 doctors in December 1982 who were dissatisfied with the actions and decisions taken by MASA, especially with reference to the issue of the health and welfare of detainees under security legislation, accused MASA of having ties with the apartheid regime. On 30 January 1985, the Pretoria Supreme Court ordered the SAMDC to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the two doctors who treated Steve Biko during the five days before his death. After this secondary inquest by the SAMDC, action was taken against the doctors. Both of them were found guilty of improper and disgraceful conduct. Dr Tucker was struck off and Dr Lang was cautioned and reprimanded.