The Management of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Kwara State, has explained the reason it ordered the release of the body of one Alhaji Solihu, whose three relatives were alleged to have assaulted a doctor of the hospital.
The Head, Corporate Affairs Unit, UITH, Mrs. E.O. Ajiboye, said the management, having comprehensively reviewed the matter, magnanimously, “decided to release the corpse to the relatives for burial.”
“However, further investigations and possible prosecution of the arrested persons linked with the doctor’s assault would continue to its logical end.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Resident Doctors, UITH, Ilorin, has begun a five-day strike, as a result of the assault. It would be recalled that hospital management, on Wednesday, seized a corpse of a patient and arrested one of the deceased’s relatives for physically assaulting a medical doctor. It was gathered that three family members of the deceased, on Tuesday, reportedly beat up a medical doctor in the Accident and Emergency Wing of the hospital, following what they described as non-challant attitude of medical staff leading to the death of their relative.
Ajiboye said: “The UITH appreciates the peaceful resolution of the problem. But, the management frowns at avoidable frictions between relatives and healthcare givers, and will do all that is necessary, including legal redress, to solve the problem.”
She said such, had in the past, “led to serious injuries on healthcare givers, adding that the hospital management would no longer tolerate any of such harassments and assaults from patients’ relatives and friends.”
“Patients and their relatives are strongly advised to always channel their grievances through the Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit of the hospital, rather than resort to verbal abuse and violence in seeking redress to observed lapses or ethical breaches on the part of members of staff of the hospital…”
“We, once again, reiterate our commitment to the delivery of quality healthcare services to our patients, while we covet their unalloyed co-operation.”
