Stop, harassing,arresting doctors over patient's death - NMA

The Nigeria Medical Association, Anambra state chapter , has decried incessant harassment and arrest of doctors in the state over patients' death.

The NMA chairman in the state , Dr. Jide Onyekwelu stated this during his acceptance speech after his election.

He regretted society's negative perception of doctors, which he noted had contributed to the blame of death cases in the hospital to negligence.

He wondered why doctors whose primary duty was to save lives would be treated as common criminals anytime a case of death was recorded in the hospital.

He said, "The doctor is faced with lots of challenges. The doctors primary duty, ordained by God and by his training is to save lives, promote and rehabilitate dysfunctional health and superintend transition to death.

"How come a patient dies in a hospital and society blames the doctor for the death? How come the aggrieved patient's relatives connive with security agents to arrest and detain the doctor, treating him like a common criminal?"

The NMA chairman maintained that no doctor would deliberately allow his patient to die, stressing that it was only natural for human to die, and most times in the hospitals.

He added, "Doctors stake their lives and safety to render healthcare, but the system sees it as obligatory service that does not require compensation and appreciation.

"Hence, how come doctors must go on strike to press home their demands for payment of salaries? How come doctors must strike for government to provide personal protective equipment to protect them from their life-threatening duty?"

He ejoined the public to stop harassing doctors but seek proper channels of redress in the event of the death of their own than resorting to harrasement, arrest and detention of doctors.

He appealled to the Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano to redeem the N10m pledge for the commencement of the NMA Secretariat in the state ,expected to house cancer treatment and research centre.