Four medical doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State, has been slammed a 21-month suspension by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal for negligence of duty 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.
