Medic arraigned for allegedly endangering patient’s life

For allegedly endangering his patient life, a medical practitioner, Dr. Ejike Orji has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Igbosere.

Orji was arraigned before Chief Magistrate O.O Otitoju  by the Nigerian Police on a charge, bordering on endangering the life of a 16 year-old Somitochukwu Ezi-Ashi.

The defendant, who is the Chief Medical Director of Excel Medical Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, was alleged to have endangered the victim’s life by using a saw blade to remove Plastic Of Paris (POP) from the victim’s leg on July 24, 2018, which led to a deep cut in the victim’s leg.

According to the prosecution, the offence is contrary to and punishable under section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Earlier before he was arraigned, the prosecutor, Inspector Amedu Adoga told court that the defendant was arrested by the police, following a petition received from the victim’s parent, Mr. And Mrs. Isioma  Ezi-Ashi, wherein it was reported that the defendant carried out orthopedic operation on the victim, without the consent of his parents.
 
The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution counsel further told the court that, after the operation, the victim complained of discomfort and asked that the POP placed on his leg be relaxed, but that the defendant bluntly refused.

This, the plantiffs said, resulted in the victim becoming unconscious and was subsequently rushed to Reddington Hospital, Lagos where he was immediately taken to the theatre.  

Adoga also told the court that at the Reddington Hospital, it was discovered that the defendant at Excel Medical Centre has used a saw blade  to cut the POP on the victim’s leg and in the process, the muscles in lower part of his leg, his foot and toes were severely damaged with wide open sores that were at the initial stage of becoming “compartmentalised”.

He said that due to the development, the victim had undergone four major surgeries.
 
He added that following the critical condition of the victim, a team of two orthopedic surgeons from the United States had to evacuate the dead muscle from the leg and it was a major struggle to save the life of the young boy.