The Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) Chapter, says it will institute legal action over the false claims that its members were responsible for the death of a politician, Olatunde Iyanda.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Michael Olamoyegun and the Secretary, Dr Ayobami Alabi (Secretary), on Thursday in Ibadan.
The doctors had on Tuesday commenced industrial action, calling for the arrest of those who allegedly assaulted a doctor while on duty following the death of Iyanda.
The association claimed that one Olufemi Onireti, a politician, had allegedly instructed some of his political thugs to intimidate and beat up a doctor.
In a swift reaction, Onireti, however, denied the allegations, insisting that the doctor’s negligence led to the death of Iyanda, the PDP Ward Chairman in Ogbomoso.
The association said its members or the hospital was not responsible for Iyanda’s death, adding that the man did not died under the hospital’s care.
The MDCAN described the allegation of mismanagement of the deceased as “false, evil and uncharitable” to the doctors as well as the hospital.
“While we sympathise on Iyanda’s demise, we hereby demand that his wife, as well as Onireti, should put forward their evidences to substantiate their claims.
“They should substantiate the false, as well as uncharitable claims, against the hospital and the doctors that managed the late politician or we will be forced to take them to court for defamation of character,” the association said.
It said that the deceased was brought into the emergency wing of the hospital at about 11:30 a.m and was promptly attended to.
“Accounts from other patients and relatives in the Emergency wing shows that the deceased was prioritised and properly cared for.
“Onireti had demanded that Iyanda, now late, be placed on oxygen and moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“This, he demanded when his oxygen saturation level was optimal (ranges from 95-96 percent) with no other medical indications to act otherwise,” it said.
Responding, Onireti, had in a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Edris Olawoyin, insisted that the doctor’s negligence led to the demise of Iyanda.
“When we should be considering litigation for negligence of duty on the part of the hospital leading to the demise of a PDP ward chairman, we are being harassed with allegations of assault.
“We are being told the whole hospital has downed tools because Onireti allegedly supervised the beating of a doctor, thereby predisposing other patients to danger,” he said.
Onireti said he was on the verge of losing a dear party leader with emotion high and everybody in panic mode, adding that he could not be held responsible for such offence.
“I hold the medical profession and its practitioners in a very high esteem and couldn’t have wilfully engaged in what I was accused of.
“For the sake of the patients in the reputable hospital whose lives are dear to us, I appeal to the striking workers to reconsider their actions and go back to work.
“We will make a reconciliatory visit to the hospital,” he said.