When doctors become deadly

The recent series of disturbing cases of medical negligence resulting in the tragic deaths of Nigerians and leaving others in need of serious medical care has necessitated a drastic revision of the country’s healthcare system.

In the last few months alone, several cases have emerged, including the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s son, who allegedly died after being administered excessive propofol and not being properly monitored during a procedure at a Lagos hospital; the case of Aisha Umar, a mother of five, who died after doctors at a Kano hospital left surgical scissors in her body and failed to investigate her persistent complaints of pain months later; and the case of Peter Afolayan, who underwent hernia surgery in an Ekiti hospital, only for subsequent scans at other facilities to reveal that both of his kidneys were missing.

In this instance, the Ekiti State Government intervened by dismissing the surgeon involved, suspending other team members, and pledging to fund Mr Afolayan’s kidney transplant; however, the patient remains on life support, suffering chronic pain. While Mr Afolayan’s situation may eventually be addressed at significant cost, most cases of medical negligence do not offer second chances.

A study indicated that Nigeria has a medical error prevalence rate ranging from 42.8% to 89.8%, with 33.3% of patients experiencing additional injuries as a result of treatment. Some estimates suggest that approximately 250,000 individuals die annually due to medical errors. While this death toll cannot be independently verified, the figure is indicative of the scale of the crisis.

The prevalence of this issue, coupled with systemic strains caused by poor doctor-to-patient ratios and infrastructural deficits, has resulted in 61.69% of Nigerian patients reporting that they feel medical practitioners in the country are arrogant and indifferent to their conditions. The habitual belligerence that patients, including women in labour, face from medical practitioners, particularly at public health facilities, has become so commonplace that it has almost become the norm. This should not be the case.

While poor working conditions have contributed to brain drain, particularly within the medical profession, with approximately 16,000 doctors having left the country in the last five years alone, a further 16,156 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have been licensed to practise in the UK between 2017 and 2025. The resulting dire doctor-to-patient ratio in the country, which stands at 3.9 per 10,000 (or 1:3,500), falls alarmingly short of the WHO’s recommended ratio of 1:600, meaning that only half of the over 74,000 doctors registered in Nigeria actually practise medicine in the country. These practitioners are often overworked, poorly remunerated, and must contend with outdated equipment and a lack of basic medical supplies, making their work increasingly challenging.

Acknowledging the many systemic failures that have resulted in numerous cases of medical negligence, we also note that significant legal and accountability gaps have enabled such negligent conduct to persist. For instance, formal complaints or lawsuits for compensation remain surprisingly low compared to the number of victims of medical negligence. This is primarily due to ignorance or financial constraints on the part of the victims. The average Nigerian is unaware of the duties owed to them by medical practitioners, let alone the fact that there is a possibility of legal redress when these duties are breached.

The government, along with legal and medical bodies, must address this gap as a matter of urgency. Mechanisms for ensuring accountability from medical practitioners and the medical system must be clearly outlined, efficiently administered, and made accessible to Nigerians at all medical facilities. The government must also ensure that systems are in place to guarantee legal representation for victims of negligent medical conduct. These resources must be independent of hospital administration to ensure fairness for both patients and medical practitioners.

Currently, victims can pursue civil actions for negligence, file criminal complaints under the Criminal Code Act, or lodge complaints with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal; however, these services are often inaccessible to most Nigerians.

While Section 343 of the Criminal Code stipulates that any person who administers medicine or medical treatment in a rash or negligent manner that endangers life shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and Section 317 provides for prosecution in cases of unlawful killing without intent to cause death, the system is prejudiced against the victim. The burden of proof lies with the aggrieved party, who must provide evidence to demonstrate negligence on the part of the medical practitioner. This requirement falls short of the standard expected of a reasonably skilled medical professional.

As it stands, many patients are unaware of their rights, and cultural factors can discourage them from challenging medical professionals. The silence from these victims only sets the stage for the next individual to suffer a similar or worse fate. Therefore, the government and civil society organisations must take measures to ensure access to legal recourse for indigent and uninformed Nigerians and raise awareness about these options.

The Federal Government’s decision to establish a National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety, chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, is commendable. However, more must be done beyond the committee’s mandate to develop and standardise national clinical governance and patient safety frameworks, strengthen systems for the prevention and reporting of adverse events, and enhance workforce capacity through training.

Nigeria must address the systemic failures that facilitate this culture of neglect and increase healthcare spending beyond the current budget allocation of 4%. Strategic investment in the healthcare sector will not only save lives but also significantly reduce Nigeria’s estimated medical tourism bill, currently standing at $1.3 billion annually. The days of Nigerians needlessly dying or suffering due to medical negligence should be firmly behind us, and all stakeholders must work together to achieve this goal.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.