Expert tasks doctors on proper treatment, respect for patients, to avoid losing license

Medical doctors have been charged to provide optimum care and treatment, as well as respect patients right to healthcare to avoid being sued for litigation, particularly negligence causing damage to their body.
   
The charge was made yesterday during the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Meta themed, “Health Practices and Medical Jurisprudence. “
   
President, Dr. Ayo Sowade said it was no longer news the litigations against hospitals, medical centres and practitioners, with licenses revoked due to damage done on patients in the course of treatment as a result of negligence. She said it’s high time practitioners respect patients right to treatment, as it is part of efforts in ensuring quality healthcare and improved outcome in the country. Vice President ARD and Chairman, Local Organising, Dr. Fakunle Victor noted that patients are now aware of their rights as often times doctors find themselves in the court room answering questions on how the management of patients were done.
   
Speaking on the theme, Vice President, World Association for Medical Laws, Laolu Osanyin said medical practitioners have always been taken to court by their patients on the basis of negligence causing damage to their body. He said negligence by doctors include, failure to attend promptly to patients requiring urgent attention when the medical practitioner is in the position to do so, manifesting incompetence in the assessment of a patient or making incorrect diagnosis, failure to advice or inform patients of the risk inherent in any treatment, particularly surgery, among others. Enjoining practitioners to adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession and ensure adequate practice as they give appropriate care and treatment to the patient to avoid undue litigation, he noted that Nigeria has limited number of doctors.