Posted on: Mon 29-06-2020

The Nigeria Medical Association, Anambra State chapter, has decried incessant harassment and arrest of doctors in the state over patients’ death.

NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Jide Onyekwelu, who spoke during his acceptance speech after his election, expressed regret over society’s negative perception of doctors.

Onyekwelu noted that the situation had made hospitals to be criticised for negligence.

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

He said, “How come a patient dies in a hospital and 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?”

The NMA chairman maintained that no doctor would deliberately allow his patient to die, stressing that it was only natural for humans to die, and most times, in hospitals.

He appealed to the Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano, to redeem the N10m pledge for the commencement of the NMA secretariat in the state, expected to house cancer treatment and research centres.

Source: Punch

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