Resident Doctors, Nurses Suspend Night Duties As Colleague Escapes Lynching In Ogun

... Management Seeks Arrest Of Suspects 

 

By Ayobami Ife,  Abeokuta 

Resident doctors, nurses and midwives at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have suspended night healthcare at the hospital in protest after relatives of a patient battered a colleague and almost lynched him. 

The health workers acting under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) took the action  after a medical officer on night duty was assaulted on Tuesday over the death of a - 70 - year old patient. 

The  aggrieved health workers served  the Management of FMC notice of the  suspension on Wednesday and the action would last three days.

They said the measure seeks to draw attention to the incessant physical assault on their colleagues by relatives of patients, lamenting that ”the latest attack was  one too many cases of physical assault in the last few months in the Centre.”

The Tuesday’s assault was perpetrated by the relatives of a 70 year old female patient diagnosed  over two years ago  of hypertension and diabetes and was admitted into this hospital  on Friday 25th June, 2021 following her referral from a private hospital.

On presentation at the Accident and Emergency, her condition was poor with noticeable signs of breathlessness, loss of consciousness  and acute kidney injury.

After showing signs of improvement at the Accident and Emergency department, she was subsequently   transferred to the Female Medical ward for further medical attention.

However, on the night of  6th July , 2021, the patient suddenly developed congestion cardiac failure and passed on while efforts were being made to revive her.

Before she passed on , she had consumed six giant cylinders of oxygen.Infuriated by the news of the death of  the patient, the relatives who were around the hospital ward  threw caution into the winds and went straight for the patient’s  Doctor and assaulted and inflicted serious  injuries on  him before he was rescued by his colleagues.

Reacting at an emergency management committee meeting, the acting Medical Director, Dr Fidelis Ojeblenu  frowned at the latest assault incident, warning that the management would  henceforth take drastic measures to deal with perpetrators of such barbaric and  criminal activities.

Ojeblenu said the management had initiated moves for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the assault to serve as a deterrent to others. 

Also, a statement by the Head of Public Relations & Information, Segun Orisajo said the acting Medical Director urged relatives of patients to always  exercise caution and refrain from the frequent attacks on the health care personnel anytime eventualities occur.

He said however that the management will continue to emphasize affective communication among the care givers to the patients and their relatives, noting that most of the assault cases have been traced to communication lapses.