The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, has condemned continued harassment of doctors practising in the state by patients and their relations.
Dr Jane Ezeonu, Chairman of NMA, Anambra Chapter, condemned the development on Wednesday in Awka, while speaking ahead of the 2024 NMA Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference and Election scheduled for July 19.
According to Ezeonu, the indiscriminate use of security agencies to intimidate, arrest and detain doctors by families of patients who felt dissatisfied with services rendered, had become a serious occupational hazard for doctors in the state.
She said it had become necessary for the NMA and the Police hierarchy to dialogue on channels for seeking redress in line with provisions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Act.
According to her, although there might be dissatisfaction with medical services, the public should know that doctors always give their best to save lives in line with their Hippocratic Oath at induction into the medical profession.
Ezeonu, who said the NMA just secured the release of a doctor detained for 13 days, added that such detention lead to brain drain among medical practitioners.
She said that by their training and oath, doctors would not harm patients.
The chairman appealed to members of the public to stop taking laws into their hands, saying that subjecting doctors to pressure and mental torture would negatively affect their ability to do their best.
“A worrisome trend we observed during my tenure is indiscriminate arrest and detention of doctors by the police on the instruction of families of patients who do not feel satisfied with services received.
“It is now an occupational hazard which also kills morale of doctors.
“Imagine security men barging into a hospital facility to forcefully take away a doctor on duty. It is a threat to healthcare delivery.
“In the past two years under my tenure, the NMA has had to secure bail for no fewer than three members who were illegally arrested and detained at a police facility,” she said.