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November 25, 2004

Child sex court in crisis

News24 reports that most of the daily hearings in the child s ex court unit at the Pretoria Regional Court are being postponed because of a shortage of magistrates. The courts were established four years ago in accordance with the Constitution, which stipulates that hearings involving child victims get priority. However, because of a shortage of magistrates, an average of 20 cases on each of the three court rolls have been postponed until April. The shortage comes after magistrates refused last month to preside over these courts on a full-time basis. Reasons given were that they refused to hear 'soul-destroying and exhausting' testimonies on an ongoing basis. This follows an altercation that developed between the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) and Regional Court President Willem Pruis. The NPA was upset that Pruis earlier had decided that the 500-plus cases on this court's roll be distributed evenly among all regional courts so that no one magistrate had to hear all the cases.
Full report on News24 site

 

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New Id Tag Could Prevent Surgical Errors

Associated Press

 

A radio frequency tag that patients can affix like a bandage to ensure doctors perform the right surgery on the right person won government approval Friday. The tag, manufactured by SurgiChip Inc. of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., aims to prevent wrongful surgeries that records show kill thousands of patients a year. Read more

 

See more:

Medical Malpractice

 

 

Topeka Narrowly Outlaws Anti-Gay Bias

Associated Press

 

Kansas is as conservative as any state, but its capital city has taken a small step toward protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination. The Topeka City Council last week narrowly approved an ordinance prohibiting bias in city hiring or employment based on sexual orientation.

 

See also:

Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

 

November 23, 2004

Bishops turn blind eye to gay wedding ceremonies in church

THE Church of England is yielding to increasing pressure to conduct gay “weddings” as the Civil Partnerships Act recognising same-sex unions comes into force next year.

Ceremonies by Anglican priests blessing lesbian and gay partnerships increased by 10 per cent last year to 300 in England alone.

Read more