NGO berates professional conduct over patient with missing intestine

NGO berates professional conduct over patient with missing intestine

A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Women Arise for Change Initiative, has frowned at the level of professionalism by some doctors following the removal of a 13-year-old boy’s small intestine in Lagos.

It would be recalled earlier in the week that one Mrs Deborah Abiodun raised the alarm on social media over the disappearance of her son, Adebola Akin-Bright’s small intestine.

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She claimed that the incident occurred while her son was receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

But in a swift reaction to the allegation, management of the state-owned health facility denied the claim saying they did not willfully remove any organ or structure from Debola’s body while performing a corrective surgery, which had been previously operated on at a private hospital in Lagos.

The matter is currently being perceived as a criminal act caught the attention of the State Police Command as its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, while responding to the development said: “I saw it on the news and we don’t know if it was caused by negligence or intentional. The matter was not reported to us, so we can’t go to the hospital and arrest anyone.

“I am advising that they write to the Commissioner of Police.”

To this, Dr Joe, Okei-Odumakin commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his intervention and taking full responsibility of the matter.

While she noted the error by the medical doctors which is common is capable of sending patients to their untimely graves those found culpable should be made to face the wrath of the law.

“The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has taken full responsibility as it is expected,” she told The Guardian. “We hope his intervention will be able to stabilise the life of the boy and that his life span will not in any way be cut short.”

“Without speaking for the medical doctors that conducted the surgery, such professional error sometimes occurs in medical practice. Such has sent patients or victims to untimely graves.

“To the best of my understanding, I don’t think the small intestine is an organ that can be harvested for pecuniary gain. Hence, one cannot effectively assert that the boy is a victim of organ harvesting.

“On the part of the government, they have a duty to ensure that our medical personnel are well catered for and adequately remunerated as that will prevent brain drain of competent hands to diaspora in search of greener pastures.

“Professional negligence should not be treated with kid gloves either on the part of the government.”