Why Medical Tribunal Suspended Five Doctors

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal on Thursday in Abuja announced the suspension of five medical doctors.

The Nation reports that the doctors were suspended from practicing medicine in the country for offences ranging from malpractice to negligence of duty.

The tribunal, which took the decision at its third session gave the names of the affected doctors as; Udeuze, Temitope Onile, Nzurumike Nnanna, Danmusa Ochala and Omotaye Akinro.

It was gathered that seven other doctors are also standing trial before the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The tribunal slammed Dr Udueze, a three months suspension after he diverted a patient to his personal hospital for surgery. The medical body said the patient died after the surgery, and in a reaction the deceased family petitioned the medical council.

Similarly, Dr. Onile, who was also handed a three month suspension for negligence, was said to have abandoned a patient that was under his care, while Nnanna, Ochala and Akinro who are his colleagues were handed six months respectively.

It would be recalled that Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on July 1 embarked on a nationwide strike, thus doctors working in government-owned hospitals boycotted work, leaving majority of sick Nigerians stranded. In a reaction to the development, on August 13, 2014, Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu sacked all the resident doctors and revealed that they will stop the  residency training until further notice, but later called them back as a sign of goodwill and urged them to put greater commitment and dedication to their duties.