The trial of medical doctors by a tribunal set up by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will begin on July 8, 2019 in Abuja.

 

The MDCN is the regulatory body of all medical and alternative medicine practitioners in Nigeria. The body has the mandate to discipline errant practitioners whose actions or inactions fall short of the medical professional ethics. The MDCN tribunal has equal jurisdictions as the regular high court, which means that its judgment can only be challenged at the Court of Appeal.

 

The trial of the doctors is coming at a time when a quack doctor employed by Adamawa State Government was alleged to have caused the death of 15 patients. More than 100 doctors who allegedly committed professional misconducts are in line to face the tribunal within the five days of its sitting.

A source at the council, who confirmed the date to our correspondent, said apart from new cases, pending cases would also be determined by the tribunal. He said, “Members of the council had been working even when the council was not in session. They have investigated a number of cases involving medical practitioners across Nigeria and the tribunal will listen to the submission and defence of the doctors concerned.”

 

In the last sitting of the tribunal last April, 15 cases were brought before it with two convictions, while some of the cases were adjourned. At the time, judgment was delivered on a case involving Dr Jamilu Muhammad of Martha Bamaiyi General Hospital, Zuru, Kebbi State, who was suspended for six months for mismanaging a pregnant woman’s case and severing the lower limb of a baby while carrying out a surgery that was deemed unnecessary.