Medical negligence- Two Doctors suspended

The death of one Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma during child birth has been linked to gross medical negligence on the part of the doctor who attended to her.this has led to the suspension of two doctors by the Medical and dental Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Chairman of The council, said the duo, Dr Christian Ogbookiri ,a registered medical practitioner and senior registrar in obstetrics and gynacology and Dr J.E.N Okonkwo , a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist and proprietor of Jeno Hospital, Enugu ,should be suspended for six months and three months respectively

The charge read by the council chairman states that Dr J.E.N Okonwo was negligent in the management of one Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma who was a patient in the said hospital on diverse days between October 17 and October 19, 2003.

It also accused Okonkwo for failure to adequately record properly all his findings during the patient’s ante-natal visits, neither did he follow up the patient adequately during such ante-natal visits up to the time of her admission for delivery on October 18, 2003.

Opinion

The pertinent question here is whether the punishment given for the act of the doctors is sufficient enough ?