Assault On Doctors, A Disturbing Trend That Must Stop.

I am thinking of work again in the morning! I didn't go to work yesterday.

Truly I have been so taken up by some other projects that I am involved in that I have not been updating this blog regularly. You only have so much of 24hours in a day, so my recent project that involve seminar and workshop organizations and delivery as well as public/motivational speaking in the area of Personal development and Peak performance including Stress management have taken much of that. I am also involved in some wealth creation and e-business. Remember I am still Resident doctor as it were. Click here to see more of that.
However as the saying goes 'a river can never forget its source, otherwise it will dry'. I love medical practice itself , most especially psychiatry/mental health. It is a passion and a driving force. Once I start talking to a patient, I am taken up. I love the Psychiatric history because it fits my love for people and the natural desire to know people and help themas regards the mind. Where else do become vulnerable and therefore become trusting if not when they tell you intimate things about themselves most especially when you have won their confidence.

So why didn't I go to work yesterday. The Association Resident Doctors(ARD), JUTH Chapter called a warning strike which was to be on for every Tuesday until three weeks when it should be full blown if the demands are not met.

Do I hear you say not again?Before you jump into conclusions let me intimate you with what happened.

Thirteen days ago, a doctor was assaulted while on duty at the Casualty section of the hospital, doing his work as a servant of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The assailant also threatened to to get the doctor sacked brandishing the name of the Chief Medical Director, and even threatened to have him dealt with anywhere within Jos. As it turned out to be, he is a son-in-law to the former deputy governor of Plateau State, Chief Michael Botman and he set at intimidating everybody with that. He was alleged to have brought the corpse of his brother-in-law (Botman's son) who slumped at home and died on the way to the hospital.His accusation was that the particular doctor was discussing with a colleague of his and smiling when he is bereaved. As a matter of fact he assaulted another doctor whom he mistook for the assaulted doctor after depositing the corpse in the morgue.

Although the case was reported to the Hospital authorities who then reported to the Police, the assailant was not arrested until the strike declared as the family claimed they needed time to mourn their loss before releasing him for arrest! That in itself called for worry.However, the dead was buried on Friday and yet the assailant was not arrested until the warning strike!

ARD therefore had no option than to take action as it seemed things were being dragged and the right of doctors being trampled upon.As they say, an injustice to one is an injustice to all. It also seems that people are now in the habit of intimidating doctors at their duty post, not with the recent similar episode in Umuahia where a government official also assaulted a doctor.

The Association therefore demanded the following;
-An appropriate apology from the assailant.
-Immediate arrest and prosecution of the assailant.
-An undertaken by the assailant to guarantee the security of the assaulted doctor whom he threatened.
-The hospital management should also beef up security in the hospital.

As it were I received a text message for the president of the association saying that these demands have been met. There is therefore going to be a meeting by 8 am in the morning to these and review the decision of industrial action.

With the above, I hope people will know that they cannot just start assaulting doctors who go through a lot of sacrifice and pain to render service to humanity.