Lagos Assembly says doctor who treated missing intestine boy not surgeon

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The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Friday, in its findings said the doctor who twice performed surgery on the late Adebola Akin-Bright, whose mall intestine was missing was an unqualified surgeon.

A statement on Friday, said this was the position of the adhoc committee set up by the house as stated by its chairman, Noheem Adams.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, during plenary on Thursday, had directed the Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, to write to the Lagos State Police Command for the arrest of Dr Abayomi Baiyewu of Obitoks Hospital in the Alimosho area of Lagos.

According to the statement, “During the investigation, the committee learnt from Dr Baiyewu that he is not a surgeon but only relied on his experience as a medical doctor.

“He also said Baiyewu, whose testimonies were recorded, told the committee that he did not carry out any medical examination on the boy before the first surgery, which he did himself, adding that he only relied on the report from a hospital the patient was first taken to.

“Noheem said after Baiyewu did the first surgery, the boy continued to complain about stomach pain and was taken back to Obitoks Hospital where Baiyewu carried out another round of surgery by himself.

“Following more complications, Hon Noheem said the boy was taken to LASUTH where it was confirmed that part of his intestine was missing.

“The lawmaker said as a doctor, Baiyewu should have taken the excised part of the boy’s body to a pathological department for tests, but that Dr Baiyewu told the committee that the body parts were mistakenly discarded, and that the doctor had planned to do a third surgery before the boy was taken to LASUTH.

“After Noheem’s submission, the House commiserated with the bereaved family, with Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda calling for the sealing of the hospital.”

Lawal Aina, another member of the committee, said it was a pitiable sight when the committee visited Akin-Bright at the hospital.

He added that upon interrogation, it was discovered that Dr Baiyewu proved not to have been a certified surgeon.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke on the issue suggested that a formal complaint be made against Dr. Baiyewu to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for action while others urged stricter monitoring of medical doctors and hospitals.

Akin-Bright died on Tuesday shortly after the House called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to further assist him in seeking treatment abroad.

Obasa, House Speaker, who directed a letter of condolence be written in respect of Akin-Bright; asked the committee to look into “other grey areas including inviting officials of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, which has the law-backed responsibility to monitor private hospitals operating in the state.”

The Speaker further asked the committee to review the extant law so as to know if it should be amended just as he said private hospitals can be made to always report their activities to the government at all times.