The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) have once again called on hospitals to attend to gunshot victims immediately, without insisting on police reports.
The reminder was made during interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, following repeated incidents where hospitals reportedly delayed care for gunshot patients.
Enacted in 2017, the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act requires all hospitals, public and private, to provide urgent medical attention to gunshot victims without waiting for police documentation. Section Seven of the law prescribes penalties of up to five years in prison, a N500,000 fine, or both for those who fail to comply.
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In a circular dated October 25, 2023, the Nigerian Police Force directed its officers to fully enforce the Act, emphasizing that no patient should be denied immediate treatment.
Dr Mohammad Suleiman, NARD’s National President, condemned the practice of refusing care as “unacceptable,” highlighting that doctors are mandated to preserve life. “Where I practice in Katsina, we treat first. The police handle the documentation later. Our duty is to save lives, not pass judgment,” he said.
Suleiman also urged the public to report incidents of patient neglect and warned that offending doctors could face disciplinary action by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which wields powers comparable to a Federal High Court.
According to PUNCH, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, Registrar of the NMCN, observed that some nurses follow hospital rules requiring paperwork before treatment, even when these conflict with federal emergency directives. “In emergencies, the patient’s life takes priority. Documentation comes afterward,” he stressed, advising nurses to stabilise gunshot victims without delay.
Both organisations emphasized that in life-threatening situations, ethical and professional obligations must override administrative or financial concerns.
