NMA decries harassment, arrest of members over patients’ deaths

ONITSHA, Anambra -Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra state chapter has decried arrests and dehumanization of its members over deaths of patients in hospitals across the country.

The state  chairman of  NMA  Dr. Jide Onyekwelu  raised the alarm  during his acceptance speech after being sworn in as  the state NMA chairman.

He also stated that   the society’s negative perception about doctors has contributed to the attribution of all death cases in the hospital to their negligence.

He wondered why doctors whose primary duty is to save lives would be treated as criminals anytime case of death was recorded in the hospitals.

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“The doctor is faced with lots of challenges. The doctor’s primary duty, ordained by God and by his training is to save lives, promote and rehabilitate dysfunctional health and superintend transition to death.

“How come a patient die in a hospital and the society blames the doctor for the death? How come the aggrieved patient’s relatives connive with security agents to arrest and detain the doctor treating him like a common criminal?” he asked.

According to him, no doctor would deliberately kill his patient, saying that it was only natural for human to die, and most times in the hospitals.

He said,”Doctors stake their lives and safety to render healthcare, but the system sees it as obligatory service that does not require compensations and appreciations.

“How comes doctors most time go on strike to press home for  their demands for payment of salaries? How comes doctors most time go on strike for government to provide personal protective equipment to protect them from their life threatening duty?”

He  enjoined relatives of death patients to consider proper channels of seeking redress in the event of the death of their own than resorting to harassment, arrest and detention of doctors.

 Onyekwelu however, appealed to governor of the state chief Willie Obiano to redeem his N10million pledge for the commencement of the NMA Secretariat expected to house Cancer Treatment and Research Center.

Earlier in his handover note, the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Monago expressed confidence in the ability of his successor to deliver on his mandate, calling for maximum support from members.