Professional Profile
Dr NS Puzi
Psychiatrist and forensic psychiatrist providing independent, evidence-based medico-legal opinion to the South African legal fraternity, courts and insurance bodies.
Background
Dr Puzi qualified MBChB at Walter Sisulu University, completed his M.Med in Psychiatry at the University of the Free State, and obtained the Certificate in Forensic Psychiatry (SA) of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. He has more than fifteen years of post-qualification clinical experience across the public and private health sectors of the Eastern Cape.
He previously served as Head of the Clinical Unit at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital Mental Health Unit, where he led inpatient services and a team of registrars, medical officers and allied professionals. In parallel he held office as Eastern Cape Secretary and later Deputy President of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP).
Philosophy of practice
Forensic psychiatry sits at the intersection of clinical medicine and the law. Dr Puzi accepts instructions on the express understanding that his role is that of an independent expert witness whose duty is to the court — not to the instructing party. Opinions are formulated only after careful examination of the available records, direct evaluation where possible, and corroborative collateral information.
Particular care is taken in cross-cultural assessment. Idioms of distress, religious and traditional explanatory models, and language of evaluation all materially affect diagnostic accuracy and are weighed accordingly.
Scope of instruction
Instructions are accepted from plaintiff and defendant attorneys, the State and the defence, the Office of the Family Advocate, curators, insurers, hospital boards and the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Dr Puzi appears in the High Court, Regional Court and specialised tribunals, and provides written opinion for matters that are resolved without trial.