The Evidence:

As earlier stated, most of the allegations are merely anecdotal. We must though, appreciate that it will be difficult and expensive to collect any proof of the espoused assertions. The verdict will basically be based on sentimental judgment and occasionally on values, depending on what side one belongs and also on one’s experience.

 

Rather than spend precious time searching for unavailable proofs of the assertions, we will look at contemporary history and current happenings to judge the actions and inactions of the Nigerian doctor.

 

The history of medicine in Nigeria is replete with several generations of doctors who have shown great leadership and selfless service to humanity, sometimes at the detriment of their lives, especially in the last few decades. There has also been a minority who decided to practice outside the code of ethics but they end up causing the profession a lot of heartache. 

 

Here are some examples:

Sir Samuel Manuwa: Pioneer Nigerian surgeon who worked all over Nigeria - North, East, West and South, performing tens of thousands of surgical operations to save lives. He spent time inspiring many young students into medical profession and contributed immensely towards the establishment of the first medical school in Nigeria- the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

 

Barau Dikko: Pioneer medical doctor of Northern Nigeria origin, He worked selflessly in the endemic disease division of the Northern Nigeria ministry of health and subsequently became an administrator.

 

Chukwendu Nwokolo: One of Nigeria’s most prominent medical scientists of the 20th century. He was an internationally distinguished expert in tropical medicine. Nwokolo was outstandingly recognized worldwide for discovering and mapping out the area of Paragonimiasis lung disease in Eastern Nigeria, with a study of the disease in Africa and clinical research for its control.

 

Adeoye Lambo: Scholar, administrator and psychiatrist. He was the most eminent African psychiatrist of his generation. He was the recognizable face of African psychiatry in the middle of the 20th century.

 

Ishaya Audu: Medical doctor, educationist, academician and seasoned administrator. He was reputed for selfless service to humanity, conscientiousness and patriotism.

 

Olikoye Ransome Kuti: Paediatrician, academician and administrator who revolutionized Nigeria’s healthcare in the 1980s by placing emphasis on preventive medicine and bringing the country’s AIDS crisis to limelight.

 

Those are very good example we may point out. Or, we may point to the case of  Mrs. E.C, for whose death The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal slammed a 21 months suspension on four doctors at the Federal Medical  Centre, Lokoja, Niger State. The accused, T.O, N.N, D.O and O.OA 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, T.O is hereby suspended for three months, N.N six months, D.O six months, and O.O.A six months.” [Punch Newspaper 6th of September 2014].

 

Nigerian Medical Doctors: Hippocrates or Hypocrites? By Dr. Olawumi ADEKOLA Pt 1 

 

We may point to the role of Dr. Adadevoh in containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Lagos. She is credited with having curbed a wider spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria by placing the patient zero, Patrick Sawyer, in quarantine despite pressures from Liberia. 

 

Or, we may point to the role of Dr. Enemuo, who assisted the spread of Ebola to Port-Harcourt but stayed true to his patient at great risk to his life. Both doctors paid the supreme sacrifice, one a heroine, the other a villain. 

 

The Verdict: 

There is no denying that there are grains of truth in some of the charges against the Nigerian doctor. Many doctors have made mistakes; some have not been self- critical and have repeated the mistakes. Some doctors have been negligent and some have done thinks for money. Some have been arrogant and even disobeyed the law. Some have been involved in cover-ups. 

 

However, it is absolutely incorrect to say that all doctors are bad or have turned bad and that the medical profession as a whole has closed ranks to cover-up. 

 

Clearly, there are problems of inequitable access and poor quality which are of public concern. 

 

The Nigerian doctor also faces the problem of imperfect medical science and overwhelming societal stress. These problems have created a turf where there is a mix of difficult science (of medicine) and difficult system as against bad practices and bad individual doctors.

 

Concludes in Part 3: Medicine Vs Practice, The System Vs The Doctor, And The Way Forward