Why our members were deregistered, suspended

The Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Foluke Fasola, has said some members of the association have been deregistered, some suspended, and others struck off the association’s list due to ignorance of the law.

Fasola stated this while delivering an address at a press conference, which formed part of a weeklong series of activities for the 2024 MDCAN-UCH AGM, held at UCH, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The event will be concluded on Sunday, September 29, with a thanksgiving at Christ’s Chapel, UCH.

While revealing the rationale behind the theme of the event titled, “The Doctor and the Rule of Law,” Fasola said it was designed to address issues members of the association face while carrying out their duties, with a view to protecting them from avoidable litigation.

He said: “From time immemorial, when there are cases of malpractice, misconduct, and negligence, doctors have been tried at MDCAN, and some have been taken to court. These issues are likely to increase because of certain reasons, and I have spoken about overwork as a principal reason why many people can become fatigued and make mistakes, unable to pay attention to details.

“The doctor is at the helm of affairs, and so every mistake made by any of the healthcare workers is considered the doctor’s error. He takes responsibility. Most times, it is the doctor that goes to court. You will not take a nurse to court, a laboratory scientist to court, or a pharmacist to court. The doctor has to defend the case because a doctor is expected to oversee and provide oversight for everyone.

“Even the MDCAN disciplinary action has deregistered some of our doctors; some have been suspended, and some have been struck off the MDCAN list. So, with that, we want to protect our members, despite all the systemic failures, problems, and challenges connected with inadequate funding, insecurity, brain drain, and burnout.

“Besides the fact that these people are overworked and burned out, some patients can’t afford many things. If you ask a patient to go and pay for a particular drug or investigation, some of them might admit they can’t afford it, and from there, you have to make a decision. But some patients will not come out straight.

“They will go round and round for hours while you’re expecting them to bring what you have requested. During that process, complications are occurring, and this will eventually be considered the doctor’s error, whereas it is the lack of provision of that particular drug.

“A doctor needs certain materials and equipment to make a diagnosis. But many times, some of those things are not available. And with that, if there is an error, it’s the doctor’s fault. All this boils down to the fact that doctors need to be aware of these constraints and protect themselves through certain measures, which a lawyer will discuss with us to avoid litigation.

“Apart from that, one important aspect of the law is documentation, but at times when you’re overworked, you can’t document everything. And when you don’t document, it’s assumed that you haven’t done it.

“We seek resources from the government to incorporate advanced technology into our practice. We reaffirm our commitment to the values that have always guided us — excellence, integrity, and compassion — and we will continue to uphold the legacy of UCH as a beacon of medical excellence in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the security of members, given the incessant kidnappings of doctors, Fasola said, “What we do is sensitise our members on security. We have told some of our members not to go around with stethoscopes and laboratory coats in their cars, or even put NMA stickers on their cars, so nobody will identify them as doctors.”

Speaking on achievements by UCH-MDCAN, Fasola said, “We provide some funds to sponsor a student initiative. We have been doing this for the past three years. We sponsor at least two indigent students per year (a medical and dental student). We earmarked an amount for that, but the College of Medicine determines who qualifies for the sponsorship.”

The Chairman, MDCAN-UCH, added, “Over the past two years, we have made significant strides in various aspects of clinical service, research, and the training of doctors, various categories of health professionals, and allied health professionals.”

MDCAN-UCH members present at the event included Vice Chairman and Chairman AGM, Dr. Kolawole Akande; General Secretary, Aderinto David; Assistant General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Jite; Treasurer, Dr. Olukemi Nasiru; Social Secretary, Dr. Oluwatoyin Olalemi; Public Relations Officer, Dr. Oladapo Aworanti; immediate past chairman, Dr. Olushola Ibiyemi, among others.