Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olawale Fapohunda on Monday,9th December 2019, delivered a Lecture at the 3rd Olayiwola Olajide Leadership Lecture Series on Medico-Legal issues, a random thoughts on what every doctor should know about legal related matters in discharging their duties.
Olawale Fapohunda, while addressing Resident Doctors at the Ekiti State School of Nursing Auditorium, Ado-Ekiti, enlightened the medical practitioners on legal and professional implications of Medical Negligence.
He lamented as he explained how medical negligence by medical practitioners have led to several loss of lives.
“We are all, when I say we, I include the legal profession, the engineers and the likes, in a situation where the prestige attached to our profession is fast eroding largely because our countrymen and women do not see us working in their interest.
“No less important is the tragic commercialization of our professions. We seem to have forgotten that we are human beings first before lawyers, doctors, engineers etc”, he said.
He however urged the medical practitioners to rise up to the reality of the country, their professional responsibilities, including the esteem that is attached to their profession which enjoins them to carry more than their fair share of societies problems.
Fapohunda while delivering his Lecture, Highlighted the various laws Governing Medical Practice in Nigeria, which includes:, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Medical and Dental Practitioners, the Hippocratic Oath, among others.
The Attorney General affirmed that the responsibility of a Medical Practitioner towards a patient commences, as soon as the Medical Practitioner gives consent to undertake a medical examination of the Patient, because “all Doctors owe a duty to Care”
In his words: “we are all human beings first before whatever professional cap we are putting on. The medical profession like the legal profession should rise up to the reality of our country
“The process of political and social transformation in Nigeria challenge doctors in terms of the services that they provide to the public. Medical practitioners will have to ensure that the profession is sensitive and responsive to our people’s needs and concerns.
“Indeed the medical profession again like other professions have to undertake a process of self-appraisal. We have to ask ourselves whether the esteem that is attached to our profession is deserved and whether the citizens increasing vote of no confidence in us is justified”.
Some of the Speaker at the event include Dr. Adejuwon Dada, Chief Medical Director at Ebute Meta, Lagos. Professor Kunle Ajayi, The Chief Medical Director of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti and Professor Kayode Olabanji, the Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.