Lagos Doctors Stage Protest Over Police Harassment and Patient Care Risks
Doctors from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) organized a peaceful demonstration in Lagos on Saturday. The protest centered on alleged continuous harassment by police forces and increasing social media attacks targeting medical practitioners. Held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, the event drew numerous healthcare professionals who voiced concerns that repeated arrests and intimidation are severely impacting healthcare delivery and placing patients at significant risk.
Allegations of Unjust Arrests and Detentions
During the protest, Dr. Jonathan Esegine, Chairman of ANPMP in Lagos State, detailed instances where doctors have been arbitrarily targeted. He stated that medical professionals are being "hounded at will, abducted from their practices, harassed, intimidated, mistreated and imprisoned at will for no just cause." Dr. Esegine specifically accused the Nigerian Police, particularly the Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, of turning the arrest of doctors into a routine practice, often detaining them without proper investigation.
He highlighted a concerning case where doctors have been forcibly removed while attending to patients, leading to service shutdowns and depriving patients of essential care. Dr. Esegine cited a recent incident in Lekki involving a young doctor and a nurse who treated two critically ill children, aged two and five, suffering from severe dehydration and sepsis. Despite the medical team's efforts, both children later died, and the doctor and nurse were detained for approximately one week during the Easter period, despite interventions by the association to secure their release.
Rise of Defensive Medicine and Brain Drain Concerns
Dr. Esegine warned that this trend could force doctors to adopt defensive medicine practices, where fear of arrest influences urgent medical decisions. He explained, "Doctors will now begin to practise defensive medicine. When you confront a medical emergency, you begin to ask yourself, should I attempt it or not? If it fails, the police will jump in and label you with murder." He emphasized that doctors are not responsible for determining life and death, noting that medical outcomes are not always predictable, and even with the best care, patients can still die.
Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, National First Vice President of the NMA, reinforced this by stating that only the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has the authority to handle cases of medical negligence, not the police. He warned that continued harassment could exacerbate brain drain in the health sector, as doctors are being pushed away from serving the country despite their patriotism and passion.
Calls for Action and Fair Treatment
Dr. Saheed Babajide Kehinde, Lagos State Chairman of the NMA, echoed these sentiments, noting that doctors are increasingly being judged unfairly by both security agencies and on social media. He called on the police and other government agencies to cease the harassment and urged the media and public to verify facts before drawing conclusions in cases involving medical practitioners. Dr. Kehinde stressed that if this situation persists, it will negatively affect healthcare delivery and put the lives of Nigerians at risk.
The protest underscores a critical issue in Nigeria's healthcare system, where the safety and professional freedom of doctors are under threat, potentially leading to broader implications for public health and medical practice in the region.
