Dear All,

 

Variously, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has been accused on this forum of 'indolence' even when it is known that for a greater part of the last two decades there was no MDCN as successive governments dissolved it without notice and without proffering reasons. 

 

The record is that whenever the council is in session, from the times of Chairman Professor Gyoh, to Chairman Professor Roger Makanjuola, and to the current council chaired by Prof J C Azubuike, the MDCN has exerted efforts to draw down the long list of charges that it inherits after prolonged periods opf avoidable absence. 

 

The doctors and dentists in Nigeria who decide to practice outside the Code of Ethics remain in the minority but they cost the entire profession a lot of heartache. They not only harm patients but harm the reputation and standing of the medical profession in the country. The answer is that Never again should the MDCN be dissolved like mere political committees or commissions. A Chief Judge once told me that the MDCN is actually equivalent to the NJC (Nigeria Judicial Council) that has never been dissolved. The NJC completes its tenure! Lets hope that Mr President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR will fulfill his promise to deal with this matter once and for all. 

 

Read below what the current MDCN has started to do to erring doctors:

 

NIGERIA MDCN Tribunal suspends doctors for negligence 

 

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has slammed a 21 months suspension on four doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Niger State capital for negligence which led to the death of one Mrs. Eleojo Collins. The accused, Temitope Onile, Nzurumike Nnanna, Danmusa Ochala and Omotayo Oluwadamilola Akinro were arraigned on the charges of negligence of duty between January 27 and 28, 2012.

 

Delivering his ruling, the Chairman of the six-man tribunal, Dr. Jonathan Azubuike said, “For failure to see a patient as often as his/her medical condition required, Onile is hereby suspended for three months, Nnanna six months, Ochala six months, and Akinro six months.”

 

According to the charge sheet, the doctors were on call but failed to promptly attend to the patient who was admitted under their care and required urgent surgical intervention. The patient later died.

 

Akinro was accused of “suspending the passage of Foley’s catheter and proceeded to administer Misoprostol (used to induce pregnancy) without prior consultation with the consultant and senior medical officer on duty.”

 

He said the offense contravened Rule 29, 29.4(c) and 29.4(f) of the Code of Medical and Dental Ethics in Nigeria 2008 Edition and is punishable under Section 16(1)(a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap.M8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

 

In a separate ruling, the tribunal found a doctor engaged at Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Lafia Road, Kaduna, Dr. Udezue Obumneme, culpable and suspended him for three months, based on the charges of negligence and misconduct in the operation he carried out on one Mr. Steven Kwaso, who also later died.

 

In another development, a doctor with Shell Petroleum Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Dr. Amos Essien, has been arraigned before the tribunal on charges of negligence in the management of one Mr. Obhuo Sonam.

 

The charge sheet read, “You caused to be prescribed and administered several doses of sedatives and anaesthetic drugs to the said patient without monitoring adequately and you havve conducted yourself infamously in a professional respect.”

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