By Adedotun Ajayi

|

Doctors in Nigeria are  becoming endangered species, as they are now persistent targets of brutality and ruthless attacks by families of patients.

The physical and verbal attacks on doctors by patients’ relatives is a serious issue that can have negative consequences for both patients and healthcare providers.

In February 2020, a relative of an aged patient was said to have assaulted a medical officer at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo state, inflicting injuries on him. The reason? The relative was said to have been dissatisfied with the way the medical officer handled the patient.

In August 2022, a female gynecologist sustained a brain injury as a result of an attack by a patient’s family member in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Four months after, an angry father and son, aggrieved over the loss of their 53-year-old family member, reportedly attacked a medical doctor and a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Early this year, a doctor was reportedly assaulted by relatives of a patient at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara state, which led the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the hospital to commence a five-day strike.

A more devastating case was that of the killing of Uyi Iluobe, a medical doctor in Olive Clinic, Oghara, Delta State, on December 31, 2022 allegedly by relatives of a patient who  died from a gunshot wound.

Just last week, there was pandemonium at the Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, when a driver went berserk and attacked healthcare workers with cutlass over the loss of his five-year- old son.

The Hope gathered that the incident paralyzed all activities in the hospital for hours.

It was gathered that the man angrily went inside his car and brought a short cutlass which he used to beat one of the nurses on duty who almost went into coma after receiving severe injuries on her body.

Other staff and patients in the hospital ran helter-schelter for their dear lives, for the fear of being attacked by the man.

The World Health Organisation says between 8.0 and 38 per cent of health workers suffer physical violence at some points in their careers, mostly perpetrated by patients and visitors.

Uche Ojinmah, president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), decried the increasing attacks on health workers and blamed them on the agitation of Nigerians owing to the current economic situation and challenges in the country.

While pointing out that the attack on health workers is a worldwide phenomenon, Ojinmah said the reason aggrieved patients and their families take to violence is lack of trust.

“You can also not rule out the poor financial situation in the country. People are generally in a state of agitation. If you do a general assessment, this problem may not only be in the health sector, it will be everywhere.”

He stated that the relocation of doctors and other health workers to foreign countries offering better pay and better working conditions has been a major source of concern in Nigeria, with the doctor-to-patient ratio set at one to 5,000.

According to the Registrar of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom (UK), the number of Nigerian doctors practising in the UK jumped from 7,167 in 2019 to 9,203 in 2021, showing an increase of 28 percent within two years.

With the growing shortage of health workers, do the ones who are still available have to contend with the risk of attacks? he wondered.

“We are facing one of the worst brain drain; so I think the government should take this one seriously by first investigating the case in Oghara and bringing the culprits to book,” Ojinmah said.

Ayodeji Ayanleye, a public health educator said it is important for healthcare providers to have a plan in place for dealing with violent or aggressive patients and relatives.

According to him, this may include training health workers on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations, providing a safe and secure environment, and having procedures in place for reporting and addressing incidents of violence. In addition, “Healthcare providers can take steps to prevent patient aggression by ensuring clear communication, managing patient expectations, and providing education and resources to help patients’ relatives better understand their medical condition and treatment options,” he said.

“Overall, the attacks on doctors by patients’ families is a serious issue that requires attention and action from healthcare providers, patients, and society as a whole. By working together, we can create a safer and more respectful healthcare environment for all” he added.

Bukun Phil, a psychologist said among the many reasons that have caused an increase in these cases of violence could be a changing trust in the medical system.

According to him “From enjoying a divine status in olden times, the social image of healthcare providers has seen a downward road. There is a general feeling of wrong doing by the doctors for financial gain. Anxiety, long waiting period before meeting the doctor in emergency ward, not getting enough medical attention, financial constraints, lack of grievance cells in hospitals and other might be few reasons that could build up frustration in the relatives who might engage in verbal or physical violence. Sometimes, unhygienic and crowded emergency rooms could also facilitate the violence.

“With commercialization of the health sector, the financial divide has never been as wider as it is today. With many patients lacking a health insurance, sometimes a certain diagnosis can come as a financial disaster and set them off into an emotional turmoil. This might result in the displacement of this anger onto physicians,” he added

 Khalid Okunade, a legal practitioner, said attacks on doctors is wrong.

 ‘No matter the frustration and pain from the death of a loved one, apart from the fact that violence on doctors will not bring back the dead, assault and battery are criminal offences.

 “There are proper channels to report these grievances and they will be determined by relevant authorities, if there is a case. There is also the option of seeking redress in a court of law,” he added