Why Do Nigerian Hospitals Still Need “Police Report” Before Treating Victims of Gunshots, Armed Robber Attacks?
Different sad incidences formed the above question and informed this thread…
At about 2 pm, yesterday’s afternoon, I wanted to take a nap but felt this sudden rush of unease. Sleep wouldn’t come. Even after a few attempts of animating my eyes to force the sleep, they stubbornly remained wide open and pacing.
I was alone in the house, lying on the couch, in the parlour. The Arise TV Channel was on but my troubled mind was too restless to pay attention. I just couldn’t explain the feeling. It came suddenly and strangely.
Different sad incidences formed the above question and informed this thread…
At about 2 pm, yesterday’s afternoon, I wanted to take a nap but felt this sudden rush of unease. Sleep wouldn’t come. Even after a few attempts of animating my eyes to force the sleep, they stubbornly remained wide open and pacing.
I was alone in the house, lying on the couch, in the parlour. The Arise TV Channel was on but my troubled mind was too restless to pay attention. I just couldn’t explain the feeling. It came suddenly and strangely.
To fight it off, I picked up my phone, logged on to X (Twitter) and just started scrolling the TLs. On about my 5th scroll, this video of Pastor Femi Lazarus appeared and I tapped to open it.
Sincerely, what caught my attention and propelled me to open the video was its front-page image. It’s merged with Tinubu’s picture. So, I thought it’d be political.
But, in the opening section of the video, Pastor Lazarus told a story of a young Nigerian who was set to wed in January, 2020. A week to his wedding, he suffered a fatal fate. He was returning home, a particular day, and was confronted by arm£d robb£rs.
Sincerely, what caught my attention and propelled me to open the video was its front-page image. It’s merged with Tinubu’s picture. So, I thought it’d be political.
But, in the opening section of the video, Pastor Lazarus told a story of a young Nigerian who was set to wed in January, 2020. A week to his wedding, he suffered a fatal fate. He was returning home, a particular day, and was confronted by arm£d robb£rs.
In his struggle with them, while they forced their way to take his belongings, they stabbed him and ran away, leaving him bleeding profusely.
Help came from passersby and he was rushed to the hospital. He was passing away fast, yet, still breathing. They got to the hospital and the doctor first asked to know what happened to him.
Obviously, he could barely talk, so the guys who had rescued him explained that he was stabbed by (unknown) arm£d robb£rs. The hospital refused to treat him and insisted they would bring a “police report.”
Help came from passersby and he was rushed to the hospital. He was passing away fast, yet, still breathing. They got to the hospital and the doctor first asked to know what happened to him.
Obviously, he could barely talk, so the guys who had rescued him explained that he was stabbed by (unknown) arm£d robb£rs. The hospital refused to treat him and insisted they would bring a “police report.”
First, this young man was in critical condition. His soul was fast-pacing to the land of no return. Second, the people who rescued him had no idea whom he was. They just helped. How, then, would the doctors ask for a police report!
The doctors said that was a “necessary condition” to treat the victim. He’s being careful not to get the hospital into trouble with the Police or the authorities.
These guys who had helped didn’t know where else to take the dy!ng young man to. He bled in excruciating agony for over 3 hours. They all watched helplessly, with the doctors, as the young man passed on.
The doctors said that was a “necessary condition” to treat the victim. He’s being careful not to get the hospital into trouble with the Police or the authorities.
These guys who had helped didn’t know where else to take the dy!ng young man to. He bled in excruciating agony for over 3 hours. They all watched helplessly, with the doctors, as the young man passed on.
He was buried on the next Saturday, a day he had fixed for his wedding.
I’m not a “truth-tester” to determine if the story was true. But, the story is certainly not new and so, I can’t fault it. Just as I listened to Pastor Femi narrate it, I caught a sudden emotional flashback.
In 2018, I learnt of a particular tragic incident involving a student - a final year student in a certain Nigerian university.
He was out, with some friends, on a particular weekend-night. After their outing, as he’s returning home, alone, he was confronted by three armed boys. They had traced him from the bar.
I’m not a “truth-tester” to determine if the story was true. But, the story is certainly not new and so, I can’t fault it. Just as I listened to Pastor Femi narrate it, I caught a sudden emotional flashback.
In 2018, I learnt of a particular tragic incident involving a student - a final year student in a certain Nigerian university.
He was out, with some friends, on a particular weekend-night. After their outing, as he’s returning home, alone, he was confronted by three armed boys. They had traced him from the bar.
He engaged them in a struggle, as they forced to collect his belongings. Eventually, one of them sh0t him in the stomach and his intestine gushed albeit mildly.
As the robb£rs deserted the scene, the young man managed to reach his phone and contact one of the friends he was out with.
Finally, he was taken to a hospital, closest to the scene. The hospital refused to treat him. They asked the friends to either get a “police report” or take him to another hospital.
As the robb£rs deserted the scene, the young man managed to reach his phone and contact one of the friends he was out with.
Finally, he was taken to a hospital, closest to the scene. The hospital refused to treat him. They asked the friends to either get a “police report” or take him to another hospital.
There’s no Police station close to the hospital. No other hospital close-by that they could rush the dying young man to. All efforts of persuade the hospital to treat him was futile.
Eventually, he bled to d£ath, for over 2 hours. That night, the friend, enraged by the avoidable d£ath of the young man, mobilized some students and they invaded the hospital and beat up the doctor on duty.
As this story struck memory, I felt the blazing rush of emotions grip my unsettled mind. I almost let out some tears. I unpaused Pastor Femi’s video and proceeded to watch.
Eventually, he bled to d£ath, for over 2 hours. That night, the friend, enraged by the avoidable d£ath of the young man, mobilized some students and they invaded the hospital and beat up the doctor on duty.
As this story struck memory, I felt the blazing rush of emotions grip my unsettled mind. I almost let out some tears. I unpaused Pastor Femi’s video and proceeded to watch.
He went on to tell another story, about a woman, in Abuja, who fell into the trap of “one-chance” cr!minals.” In the course of collecting her belongings, they stabbed and threw her out of the car.
She was, eventually, rescued by some people and taken to the hospital. When they arrived, the hospital refused to receive her, demanding for a police report, first. So, they simply put her on the floor.
There’s no means to contact her people in the immediate. She laid flat on the floor and grasp for breath, in excruciating pains and profuse bleeding. She couldn’t hold for much longer and passed on.
She was, eventually, rescued by some people and taken to the hospital. When they arrived, the hospital refused to receive her, demanding for a police report, first. So, they simply put her on the floor.
There’s no means to contact her people in the immediate. She laid flat on the floor and grasp for breath, in excruciating pains and profuse bleeding. She couldn’t hold for much longer and passed on.
Sadly, many more heart-wrenching stories abound. Many Nigerians have suffered very painful, yet avoidable, d£aths simply because of a worthless and needless piece of shitty paper called “Police Report.”
Doctors say that their very unfortunate experiences with the Police are a major reason they’re bent on demanding that victims of injuries inflicted by (unknown) armed robb£rs or cult groups present a Police Report.
This is mostly amongst private hospitals. They say that Police try to rope them in during investigations over cr!mes involving the victims that they treat - if they attend to the victims without the Police Report. In such cases, they pay to bail themselves or, worse still, get to be locked in police cells.
Doctors say that their very unfortunate experiences with the Police are a major reason they’re bent on demanding that victims of injuries inflicted by (unknown) armed robb£rs or cult groups present a Police Report.
This is mostly amongst private hospitals. They say that Police try to rope them in during investigations over cr!mes involving the victims that they treat - if they attend to the victims without the Police Report. In such cases, they pay to bail themselves or, worse still, get to be locked in police cells.
This raises very salient questions…
One, why would the Police need to issue a report before injured victims can be treated?
Two, why is a Nigerian police report rated far highly than the life of a Nigerian?
Three, Is it not against medical ethics to suspend treating victims and saving their lives because there’s no police report?
Strikingly, sometime in 2017, under Buhari, a law that forces hospitals to compulsorily treat and care for victims of gunshots was passed. It’s called “The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act.”
One, why would the Police need to issue a report before injured victims can be treated?
Two, why is a Nigerian police report rated far highly than the life of a Nigerian?
Three, Is it not against medical ethics to suspend treating victims and saving their lives because there’s no police report?
Strikingly, sometime in 2017, under Buhari, a law that forces hospitals to compulsorily treat and care for victims of gunshots was passed. It’s called “The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act.”
In Section 1 of the law, it’s clearly stated that every hospital must “receive and treat victims of gunshot wounds with or without police clearance (report) and/or payment of an initial deposit.”
However, there’s an objection - a “but.” It is that when hospitals treat such victims, they must “report to the nearest police station within two hours of commencing treatment on the victim.”
This objection (but) appears as a deliberately-imposed obstacle to forestall the successful application of the law - will explain better shortly.
However, there’s an objection - a “but.” It is that when hospitals treat such victims, they must “report to the nearest police station within two hours of commencing treatment on the victim.”
This objection (but) appears as a deliberately-imposed obstacle to forestall the successful application of the law - will explain better shortly.
But it’s important to, also, note that it’s not just hospitals who are mandated by the law to take responsibility for or assist victims of gunshots. Every Nigerian is responsible too. It states that “every Nigerian must offer any assistance to gunshot victims, by taking them to the nearest hospital for treatment.”
An interesting part of the law is Section 7, where it outlines the punishment for any hospital or individuals who violates the law.
It states “any authority or person, whose omission (refusal to help or treat gunshot victims) results in the unnecessary death of a gunshot victim shall be liable to imprisonment for 5 years or a fine in the sum of N500, 000.00 or both.”
An interesting part of the law is Section 7, where it outlines the punishment for any hospital or individuals who violates the law.
It states “any authority or person, whose omission (refusal to help or treat gunshot victims) results in the unnecessary death of a gunshot victim shall be liable to imprisonment for 5 years or a fine in the sum of N500, 000.00 or both.”
It may further interest you to know that one of the government bodies that are responsible for implementing this law is “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)”.
Just like I, you’d wonder, what exactly have they done in implementing the law? In fact, has anyone been arrested or prosecuted for violating the law, ever since it came into existence, in 2017?
Clearly, the objection in the law that demands hospitals to report to the nearest Police offices, 2 hours after they commence treatment of victims of gunshots, already nailed whatever good or purpose the law intends to serve.
Just like I, you’d wonder, what exactly have they done in implementing the law? In fact, has anyone been arrested or prosecuted for violating the law, ever since it came into existence, in 2017?
Clearly, the objection in the law that demands hospitals to report to the nearest Police offices, 2 hours after they commence treatment of victims of gunshots, already nailed whatever good or purpose the law intends to serve.
Every Nigerian is aware and wary of the activities of the Nigeria Police Force - how very cr!minally they carry out their jobs, most times, particularly in asking for bribe, falsely accusing suspects, and making very annoying demands.
No one wants to have such encounter with the Nigeria Police, much less, for a kind gesture that yields no actual gain. To them, the Police are “suspect.”
I mean, why should the Police even ask hospitals to visit the nearest Police station to get a police report for treating a victim - within 2 hours?
No one wants to have such encounter with the Nigeria Police, much less, for a kind gesture that yields no actual gain. To them, the Police are “suspect.”
I mean, why should the Police even ask hospitals to visit the nearest Police station to get a police report for treating a victim - within 2 hours?
Strikingly albeit unfortunately, this extremely upsetting problem persists. Many Nigerians, especially in rural areas, have continued to be victims of avoidably painful d£aths, simply because of “police report.”
For instance, there’s another report of a certain commercial motorcyclist, named Adeloye Moses, who suffered a near-d£ath fate, but luckily survived.
Early in the morning of June 25, 2021, Moses came out to hustle for the day - he narrated that his children’s school fees was due and the he had set a target to hustle for part of the school fees that day.
For instance, there’s another report of a certain commercial motorcyclist, named Adeloye Moses, who suffered a near-d£ath fate, but luckily survived.
Early in the morning of June 25, 2021, Moses came out to hustle for the day - he narrated that his children’s school fees was due and the he had set a target to hustle for part of the school fees that day.
At 5 am, he’s already on the road. His first passengers would be two young men who dashed out of a night club, in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
He rode them to Kola Balogun area, in the same Osogbo, as they requested. Just as they arrived, the young men pulled out a gun, shot him in the mouth, and made away with his motorcycle.
Some residents from the community who were alerted by the sound of the gunshots rushed to the venue and met him lying helplessly on the ground, in a pool of blood.
He rode them to Kola Balogun area, in the same Osogbo, as they requested. Just as they arrived, the young men pulled out a gun, shot him in the mouth, and made away with his motorcycle.
Some residents from the community who were alerted by the sound of the gunshots rushed to the venue and met him lying helplessly on the ground, in a pool of blood.
They, immediately, reached the Osun Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (O’Ambulance’) but it’s was a bitter, sore experience.
One of the rescuers, identified as Muniru Asiyanbola, narrated that, “when the ambulance service arrived, they told us they cannot attend to a gunshot victim unless we have police presence or police report.”
They had to, quickly, make another arrangement to take Moses to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, the hospital declined treating him, until they got a police report.
One of the rescuers, identified as Muniru Asiyanbola, narrated that, “when the ambulance service arrived, they told us they cannot attend to a gunshot victim unless we have police presence or police report.”
They had to, quickly, make another arrangement to take Moses to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, the hospital declined treating him, until they got a police report.
A relative of his had to contact Yemisi Opalola, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson who facilitated a police report before he was treated.
Similarly, in July, 2019, a certain Corps Member, Precious Owolabi, who served with Channels Television, was frustrated to d£ath, simply because of Police Report.
He was shot while covering the clash between the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). The private hospital he was rushed to refused to treat him.
Similarly, in July, 2019, a certain Corps Member, Precious Owolabi, who served with Channels Television, was frustrated to d£ath, simply because of Police Report.
He was shot while covering the clash between the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). The private hospital he was rushed to refused to treat him.
He was rushed to another hospital but there’s no doctor to attend to him. Their next call was the National Hospital in Abuja. But, before they could get there, he had d!ed.
It’s incredible that all these awful and fatal incidents happened even after the so-called “The 2017 Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act” was passed.
As expected, both the Police and medical body have continually engaged in a concerted but sly PR campaigns, that Police Report isn’t needed to treat victims of gunshot wounds. But it’s all a fluke.
It’s incredible that all these awful and fatal incidents happened even after the so-called “The 2017 Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act” was passed.
As expected, both the Police and medical body have continually engaged in a concerted but sly PR campaigns, that Police Report isn’t needed to treat victims of gunshot wounds. But it’s all a fluke.
Sometime, in 2021, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Professor Innocent Ujah, said that “doctors do not need to see a police report or even think about fees before treating a patient during an emergency.”
But this sounds like the Nigeria Police shouting noisily in the media that they “don’t ask for bail money.” The reality on ground speaks facts and tells truths that betray the fine grammar they speak in the media.
Again, recall a tweet by Aliyu Giwa, a police officer in the force public relations office (FPRO), back in 2022, when he said that doctors must treat patients before asking for police report.
But this sounds like the Nigeria Police shouting noisily in the media that they “don’t ask for bail money.” The reality on ground speaks facts and tells truths that betray the fine grammar they speak in the media.
Again, recall a tweet by Aliyu Giwa, a police officer in the force public relations office (FPRO), back in 2022, when he said that doctors must treat patients before asking for police report.
But the question is, how many of these doctors render that innocent help and don’t eventually land themselves into trouble with the Police?
As a matter of fact, a certain doctor had revealed to the Vanguard newspaper, sometime in 2018 of how the Police roped him into a robb£ray case and extorted huge sums of money from him.
He narrated, “Initially, I used to use my discretion in treating such issues but I stopped after police dragged me to their office and extorted huge amount of money from me for treating a robbery suspect whose life I wanted to save.”
As a matter of fact, a certain doctor had revealed to the Vanguard newspaper, sometime in 2018 of how the Police roped him into a robb£ray case and extorted huge sums of money from him.
He narrated, “Initially, I used to use my discretion in treating such issues but I stopped after police dragged me to their office and extorted huge amount of money from me for treating a robbery suspect whose life I wanted to save.”
Just a few days ago, exactly on August 2nd, the The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, through its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, ordered hospitals and medical workers to report, to the police, the victims of gunshots in the FCT, following the #EndBadGovernanceProtest
With such directive, how do medical practitioners discharge their responsibilities without fear - knowing the kind of characters most Nigeria Police officers are?
In the end, this brings us to the conclusion that, Nigerian authorities, particularly the Police, must stop being the weapon fashioned against Nigerians.
With such directive, how do medical practitioners discharge their responsibilities without fear - knowing the kind of characters most Nigeria Police officers are?
In the end, this brings us to the conclusion that, Nigerian authorities, particularly the Police, must stop being the weapon fashioned against Nigerians.
It’s not a difficult thing to ask that Nigerians are allowed to survive. That shitty part, in the 2017 Act, that compels hospitals to get a police report, after 2 hours of commencing treatment of victims should be extracted and thrown into the lag00n where it belongs.
Doctors should be mandated to treat victims, completely, without Police interference and should be free from getting whatever useless “report” 2 hours after treating victims.
Doctors should be mandated to treat victims, completely, without Police interference and should be free from getting whatever useless “report” 2 hours after treating victims.
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