Nigeria Has Licensed Doctors to Kill, Trade On Human Parts – Falana

The National Assembly recently passed the Natonal Health Act and it was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in what has been widely acclaimed by Nigerians.

But the Human Right lawyer said it is a license for medical personnel to be killing innocent Nigerians adding that there are certain provisions of the Act that disregards consent of Nigerians to the type of medical treatments that they want to get.

According to him, before now, the fundamental right of Nigerians to health is guaranteed by Article 16 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right. Ratification and Enforcement, Act , CAP A9 , Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Falana who accused the Bill Gates Foundation, US of introducing section 48 and 51 to the controversial Act, wondering why the West should protect the rights of animals in their countries and recommend the violation of human rights in Nigeria.
He lamented that the nation’s public hospitals have not only become a consulting clinic but have been reduced to mortuaries.

“We wish to point out that the National Assembly has violated the fundamental rights of Nigerians to life, human dignity, privacy and freedom of thought, conscience and religion by authorizing medical doctors to remove organ of living persons in Nigeria without their informed consent.

“In order to appreciate the extent of the infringements of the human right of the Nigerian people section 48 and 51 of the National Health Act, 2014 which have made elaborate provisions for transplant are reproduced below.

“ 48 (1) subject to the provision of section 53, a person shall not remove tissue, blood or blood product from the body of another living person for any purpose except: (a) with the informed consent of the person from whom the tissue , blood or blood product is removed granted in prescribed manner

“ (b) that the consent clause may be waived for medical investigations and treatment in emergency cases and in accordance with prescribed protocol by appropriate authority.”

He affirmed that, “Since all hospital and other medical establishments have been mandated to admit and treat all persons in emergency situation the National Assembly have licensed medical personnel to engage in unauthorized surgical operations for the purpose of removing vital organs living persons.

“ Even though there are stringent penalties for commercializing any organs removed from any living person why should the consent of the donors be dispensed with?

“In other Third World where similar dangerous legislation exist organs removed from living or dead persons are sold and transported to western countries where they are in high demand.” The Lawyer called on the National Assembly to immediate repeal sections 48 and 51 without delay.