Doctors to protest the stripping naked of a female doctor by patient’s relatives & unchecked violence against health workers
Doctors in Abuja will on Thursday (today) protest after one of their female colleagues was stripped naked by relatives of a patient.
The relatives were reportedly angered after their mother died in Maitama District hospital, Abuja.
They accused the female doctor of refusing to approve blood transfusion for their mother.
But the doctor had explained to them that the blood transfusion wasn’t necessary because the blood volume of the patient was normal and would further complicate her condition leading to mismanagement.
“This particular case was that of a chronic illness that was given standard quality care comparable to best practices. Unfortunately, the patient did not respond adequately and died,” the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) FCT chapter, Dr Ekpe Phillips said Tuesday while confirming the incident.
He said the assault on the doctor was carried out while she was carrying out her lawful duty.
Dr Philips said the relatives had threatened to kill the doctor for refusing their request despite adequate counselling and explanation.
According to Dr Philips, after the patient had passed away on January 7, the relatives threatened to kill the doctor and on January 9 they attacked and stripped her naked for refusing their request.
“They made good their promise by molesting the female doctor and stripped her naked in broad daylight. This indeed is terrible and unacceptable.”
Dr Philips said that some patients’ relatives are fun of taking laws into their hands whenever they were dissatisfied.
The violent attack on medical doctors and other healthcare workers have surged in recent times. About three days ago, a medical doctor narrated how his colleague was locked up in a room at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and brutally beaten up by members of the paramilitary forces.
No doctor or any health worker should be beaten up in the course of saving lives. Government, hospital management, the Nigerian Medical Association and other sister bodies must act now.
This Image is representative.
