Medical malpractice should be reported to MDCN, not consumer protection agency– NMA
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has appealed to the public to utilise established professional channels and institutions in addressing their concerns on medical negligence and malpractice.
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Lagos State NMA Chairman, Dr. Adetunji Adenekan, stated this during the NMA Leadership Retreat which started on Sunday in Lagos, themed: “The 21st Century Medical and Dental Practitioners: Leadership, Opportunities and Threats.”
Adenekan asserted that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had the mandate to investigate and resolve such concerns and not the consumer protection agency.
“The door of the association is also open for complaints about her members,” he said.
“There is a need for us to understand that 21st-century medical practice requires us to give optimal care with the standard of care in mind as always.
“We cannot afford to let loose our professional guard while empathy is key and should not be lost on us,” Adenekan said.
According to him, regardless of the strength of the healthcare system, there cannot be effective, efficient and equitable healthcare delivery in an atmosphere of insecurity.
“The insecurity in the country starting from Boko Haram insurgency has led to reduced access and quality of healthcare services, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country.
“Many have lost their lives and those that are lucky now live in internally displaced person camps with overcrowding, poor sanitation, food and shelter shortage, malnutrition from starvation and lack of access to basic healthcare.
“Many members of NMA have been kidnapped all over the country,” he said.
Adenekan stressed that the current state of insecurity called for the government at all levels to be more proactive, adding that medical and dental practitioners should also be security conscious.
Besides, Adenekan noted that the increasing assault of doctors and other healthcare workers in the line of their duty by patients and their relatives was worrisome.
The chairman said that the cause of the incidents might be multifactorial, but noted that the government must stop the lawlessness.
“Healthcare professionals are citizens and must be protected in the course of carrying out their legitimate duties,” he said.
Adenekan added that the retreat was essential to improving the capacity building of medical professionals to meet with emerging challenges of a changing world.
MTO/Punch
