The recent protest by nurses at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) following the arrest of three of their colleagues is a wake-up call about systemic lapses in healthcare administration, not a justification for criminalizing frontline workers. Arresting nurses for the death of a patient—whose details were not fully captured because he was brought in by an anonymous Good Samaritan—points to a flawed understanding of both clinical emergency protocols and the high-pressure conditions under which Nigerian nurses operate.
It is unacceptable and deeply troubling that health professionals were detained by the police for alleged negligence when the situation clearly reflects broader institutional failures. In emergencies, the immediate priority is saving a life, not bureaucratic form-filling. Blaming nurses for not obtaining contact information from a bystander who left after dropping a dying patient is not only unfair—it’s a dangerous precedent that could discourage healthcare workers from responding swiftly in critical situations for fear of legal retaliation.
The protest—joined by over 200 nurses—was not just about the arrest; it was a demand for dignity, fairness, and systemic reform. Rather than punishing those on the frontlines, healthcare institutions and law enforcement must work together to establish clear, protective protocols for emergency admissions. Nurses should not be scapegoats for lapses in administrative or security processes.
The response by the Police Public Relations Officer, labeling the nurses’ actions as "unethical," fails to consider the realities on the ground—understaffed wards, inadequate security, and chaotic emergency situations. While documentation is essential, criminalizing lapses in a poorly supported system only drives fear and resentment.
This incident must prompt serious institutional reflection. The safety, autonomy, and professional respect of nurses must be prioritized. More importantly, this case calls for the development of a standardized national emergency protocol for unidentified patients—one that protects both lives and the professionals trying to save them.
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