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| CP Imohimi |
The Lagos State Police Command has warned hospitals and
doctors to henceforth desist from rejecting gunshot victims, saying such
act constitutes a flagrant violation of an existing law.
doctors to henceforth desist from rejecting gunshot victims, saying such
act constitutes a flagrant violation of an existing law.
In
a statement on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer,
Chike Oti, they said doctors who do so are criminally liable on account
of the provision of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of
Gunshot Act, 2017.
a statement on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer,
Chike Oti, they said doctors who do so are criminally liable on account
of the provision of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of
Gunshot Act, 2017.
The Command issued the statement following a
report on the refusal of a hospital to treat a victim who was shot and
wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki area of Ogun
State.
report on the refusal of a hospital to treat a victim who was shot and
wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki area of Ogun
State.
It noted that requesting a police report to treat the
victim was unlawful and inexcusable, noting that it would henceforth
arrest and prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects gunshot
victims on such ground.
victim was unlawful and inexcusable, noting that it would henceforth
arrest and prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects gunshot
victims on such ground.
“The Command considers the action of the
hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management
may be ignorant of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of
Gunshot Act, 2017.
hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management
may be ignorant of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of
Gunshot Act, 2017.
“The Act, however, requires the hospital
treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest police station
within two hours of commencement of treatment,” the statement read.
treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest police station
within two hours of commencement of treatment,” the statement read.
The
Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, who was saddened by
the allegation against the said hospital, consequently directed the
arrest of any medical practitioner who violates the law.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, who was saddened by
the allegation against the said hospital, consequently directed the
arrest of any medical practitioner who violates the law.
He
further directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in
the state to diligently prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects a
gunshot victim on the ground of no police report.
further directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in
the state to diligently prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects a
gunshot victim on the ground of no police report.
“The CP wants
doctors to note that the Act recommends a five-year jail term for any
person, hospital, or authority who stands by or omits to do his bit
which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet
wounds,” the statement added.
doctors to note that the Act recommends a five-year jail term for any
person, hospital, or authority who stands by or omits to do his bit
which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet
wounds,” the statement added.
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