Doctors who refused to treat gunshot victims before reporting to security agencies should be ported to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) disciplinary tribunal for sanctions.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) issued the advise on Sunday in Abuja, following recurring reports of hospitals neglecting gunshot victims in emergencies.
The National President NARD, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, has condemned the refusal to treat gunshot victims before reporting to security agencies.
He warned that rejecting patients in emergencies was criminal and unethical.
“Our training is anchored on life protection, not profit. Any doctor who turns away a patient in critical condition for monetary reasons must be held accountable,” Suleiman emphasised.
The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act, signed into law in 2017, mandates prompt treatment by all hospitals, public or private, without requiring police documentation.
Section Seven of the Act states that any person or authority whose omission leads to unnecessary death of a gunshot victim may face five years’ imprisonment, a N500,000 fine, or both.
The Nigerian Police Force, in a circular dated Oct. 25, 2023, directed all personnel to comply with the Act’s provisions immediately, reiterating that no delay in treatment is permissible.
He said the act was “unacceptable,” citing both the law and the Federal Ministry of Health’s directive on emergency care.
Suleiman said some doctors might be unaware of the law and stressed that NARD educated members regularly through Continuing Medical Education programmes on legal matters affecting medical practice.
Speaking on his experience, Suleiman said: “Where I practice in Katsina, we treat first. The police pick up the process. Our role as doctors is to save lives—not judge.”
Although unaware of recent denial cases, Suleiman encouraged citizens to report such incidents for investigation, emphasising that all emergency patients must be treated regardless of administrative or monetary concerns.
He applauded the ministry’s efforts to strengthen emergency response systems and reminded the public that the MDCN tribunal had powers equivalent to a Federal High Court in disciplinary matters.
Registrar of the NMCN, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, said some nurses acted based on restrictive hospital policies, though those policies might contradict Federal Government directives on emergency treatment.
“In some hospitals, policy demands documentation before care, but nurses must prioritise life. With the federal directive, saving the patient comes first, then documentation can follow,” Alhassan explained.
Alhassan advised nurses to stabilise gunshot victims immediately and handle documentation later.
“That’s the ethical, professional, and lawful approach nurses must follow in life-threatening emergencies,” he stated.
