Medical doctor’s murder over patient’s death in hospital angers NMA, talks tough

The killing of a medical doctor, Dr Uyi Iluobe, by relatives of a patient, who died at a hospital in Oghara, Delta State, has drawn the ire of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) which condemned his murder in strong terms.

Iluobe was murdered on December 31, 2022 over alleged negligence by the deceased patient’s relations.

The NMA President, Dr Uche Ojinmahin said in a statement on Monday that the association received with shock and sadness the news of the murder of one of its members.

He urged the National Assembly to criminalize violence against healthcare workers in the country.

“The Nigerian Medical Association received with shock and sadness the news of the murder on December 31, 2022, of Dr Iluobe by the relatives of his patient at Oghara, where his practice was based.

“The above scenario being the response of the relatives to the loss of a patient from suspected gunshot injuries can never be justified and has taken violence against doctors and other healthcare workers from injuries to murder.

“It is unbelievable that in the face of a debilitating medical brain drain, the few doctors that patriotically decided to stay back and take care of our fellow citizens are being murdered by same Nigerians.

“While we sympathize with the family of the patient that was lost, we strongly condemn this murder and call on the Government of Delta State, and the Inspector-General of Police to, as a matter of urgency, to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book so as to assuage the pain we feel,”
Ojinmahin said.

“A man should not be murdered for the selfless act of being on duty on New Year’s Eve,” he added.