NARD, NMCN urge hospitals to treat gunshot victims without police report
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, along with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, has reiterated its demand for hospitals to provide immediate treatment to gunshot victims without the prerequisite of police reports.
This reminder was issued during interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, in light of ongoing reports regarding hospitals neglecting gunshot victims during emergencies.
According to NAN, the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act, which was enacted in 2017, requires all hospitals, whether public or private, to administer prompt treatment without the need for police documentation.
Section Seven of this Act stipulates that any individual or authority whose negligence results in the unnecessary death of a gunshot victim may be subject to a five-year prison sentence, a fine of N500,000, or both.
In a circular dated October 25, 2023, the Nigerian Police Force instructed all personnel to adhere to the provisions of the Act without delay, emphasizing that no postponement in treatment is acceptable.
Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, the National President of NARD, denounced the refusal to treat victims as "unacceptable," referencing both the law and the directive from the Federal Ministry of Health regarding emergency care.
Suleiman noted that some doctors may not be aware of the law and highlighted that NARD regularly informs its members about legal issues impacting medical practice through Continuing Medical Education programs.
Reflecting on his own experience, Suleiman remarked, "In my practice in Katsina, we prioritize treatment first. The police handle the subsequent process. Our duty as doctors is to save lives, not to pass judgment."
While he was not aware of any recent cases of denial, Suleiman urged citizens to report such occurrences for further investigation, stressing that all emergency patients must receive treatment, irrespective of administrative or financial issues.
He cautioned that refusing treatment to patients in emergencies is both criminal and unethical.
“Offending doctors should be referred to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) disciplinary tribunal for sanctions.
“Our training is anchored on life protection, not profit. Any doctor who turns away a patient in critical condition for monetary reasons must be held accountable,” Suleiman emphasised.
He applauded the ministry’s efforts to strengthen emergency response systems and reminded the public that the MDCN tribunal had powers equivalent to a Federal High Court in disciplinary matters.
Registrar of the NMCN, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, noted that some nurses acted based on restrictive hospital policies, even though those policies might contradict Federal Government directives on emergency treatment.
“In some hospitals, policy demands documentation before care, but nurses must prioritise life. With the federal directive, saving the patient comes first, then documentation can follow,” Alhassan explained.
Alhassan advised nurses to stabilise gunshot victims immediately and handle documentation later.
“That’s the ethical, professional, and lawful approach nurses must follow in life-threatening emergencies,” he stated.
