Resident doctors decry attacks on health workers by patients’ relatives

The Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has decried the rising wave of attacks on health workers by relatives of patients in the FCT.

The President of the Association, Dr Roland Aigbovo, who made the position of the association known in a statement in Abuja on Friday, also narrated how relatives of a patient stripped a female doctor naked in an Abuja hospital.

According Aigbovo, a female doctor at the Maitama District Hospital, FCT, was recently assaulted and stripped naked by relatives of a patient, following the death of their mother.

“It has been estimated that recently, no fewer than six health workers, especially doctors and nurses, have been assaulted by patient’s relatives in FCT hospitals.

“The recent victim being a female doctor who was stripped naked by relatives of a patient, who died three days ago.”

Aigbowo further explained that the attack was based on purported mismanagement of the patient, who was said to have died from a chronic medical condition.

READ ALSO: 10 herdsmen arrested in Benue for opening grazing

“The perpetrators of this act had earlier threatened to kill the doctor for refusing to transfuse the patient with blood for which the doctor explained that it was not necessary.

“The doctor had also explained to the relatives that blood transfusion could complicate the patient’s condition.”

He also disclosed that the attackers of the female doctors are currently in detention at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja, and would be charged to court.

He called on the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Authority to beef up security in health facilities to end all forms of assault on health workers.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now