Three doctors arraigned over death of three-month-old baby in Abuja

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, on Tuesday in Abuja, arraigned three medical doctors for their alleged roles in the death of three-month-old Peace Oluwole.

The accused medical practitioners, Dr Iyoha Joseph, Dr Obafemi Kuye and Dr Mukaila Oyewunmi Oladipo, were accused of conducting themselves unprofessionally by administering unnecessary drugs, delaying necessary actions and exposing the baby’s system to unnecessary drugs, which resulted in his death.

The doctors were presented before a panel headed by the chairman of the tribunal, Prof. Abba Hassan.

The baby was admitted to the R. Jolad Hospital in Gbagada, Lagos State, in March 2013, where the three doctors work. He was returned after he was discharged in distress before his death.

The charge sheet read by the Registrar of the Council, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, said the three doctors acted infamously contrary to the rules of the code of medical ethics of Nigeria, 2008 edition, and punishable under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 Laws of the Federation on Nigeria 2004 as amended.

Dr Iyoha Joseph was accused of discharging the baby prematurely on March 11, 2013, when he did not observe and document clear indications that the baby had recovered from the ailment for which he was admitted, thus causing his death. He was also accused of claiming to be a specialist paediatrician when he did not have any additional qualification registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Dr Obafemi Kuye was accused of seeing the baby but failed to take an adequate history of the baby or attend to him.

Dr Mukaila Oyewunmi Oladipo was accused of failing to take remedial measures to relieve the patient of obvious respiratory distress when he was re-presented at the hospital after being discharged earlier, and delaying other procedures for more than 30 minutes which eventually contributed to the baby’s death

The three accused doctors pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charges preferred against them.

The hearing continues tomorrow.