The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has suspended four doctors from practicing medicine in the country.
The Investigation Panel is the statutory body with the mandate to investigate any case where it is alleged that a registered medical practitioner or dental surgeon has misbehaved in a professional respect.
It said, “The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has ordered the Interim Suspension from the Medical Profession in Nigeria, of the following registered medical practitioners: 1. Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji. 2. Dr. Richard Chukwujekwu Okoye. 3. Dr. Olalekan Olatise. 4. Dr. Buliaminu Adebayo Adigun.“

These registered practitioners are by this order not allowed to practice Medicine in Nigeria until the cases against them are determined by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Registrar of the MDCN, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, said the doctors were suspended last week.
“However, if the doctors constitute a danger to public health, the panel will suspend them and that was what happened. So, nobody can say anything about it until the tribunal is convened.”
The PUNCH reports that in January 2023, the Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced a medical Doctor, Dr Ejike Ferdinand Orji, to one-year imprisonment for causing grievous harm, negligence, and endangering the life of a 16-year-old patient. Also, Dr Olalekan Olatise is the Medical Director of the Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja.

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https://newswirelawandevents.com/mdcn-suspends-four-doctors-from-medical-practice/

That is how life is

The case emanated from a criminal complaint in 2018, against Dr. Orji by the parents of one Somtochukwu Ezi-Ashi, a 16 year old boy who was a high school student in the United States of America at the time. He was on holiday at the time. On the 26th of July 2018, while playing basketball he fell and sustained injury to his left leg, leading to what was later discovered to be a fracture of one of the bones in his left knee joint. He was rushed to Excel C Medical Centre in Ikoyi where Dr. Ejike Orji, the Medical Director, sedated him, had a police orderly and a basketball coach who accompanied him to pull the limb in opposite directions, and applied fiberglass on the left leg from the thigh to the toe. He did not bother to get his mother's informed consent neither did he do an x-ray of the leg to determine the nature of the fracture before manipulating the limb and applying the cast. The doctor only sent the patient for x-ray at another facility in Surulere after he had applied the cast. As the effect of the sedative he administered before applying the cast wore off, the patient started to complain of pain and tightness on the leg where the cast was applied. The patient's mother called Dr. Orji, who had left the hospital before she returned from the X-ray facility with the patient and complained of the experience but he told her that the pain would stop within 2 days. On the strength of this assurance she went home with the patient only to return to the hospital next morning with the patient because he could not sleep during the night due to pain. She requested that the cast be removed but Dr. Orji only cut open a square hole in the back of the knee and asked them to go home. At home the patient's mother noticed fluid oozing out from the opened space at the back of the knee and she took him back to the hospital the following day, 28th July 2018 with the patient. He was admitted for one day and Dr. Orji removed part of the cast but there was no improvement as the limb remained swollen and at that time the patient had lost sensation in the limb. The father of the victim contacted two orthopedic surgeons to seek their opinion on what to do for the patient
It turned out that Somtochukwu had developed compartment syndrome which was the result of occlusion of blood supply to the limb for more than 48 hours, by the tight cast. Six surgical interventions had to be carried out on Somtochukwu at a Reddington Hospital Lagos before he was flown out to the USA where he had several other operations to save the limb. The limb was saved but he developed Foot Drop. The Police conducted an investigation and submitted the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) who filed charges against Dr. Ejike Orji in the Lagos State High Court.
Aside from the criminal complaint to the Police, the patient's mother also lodged a complaint to the Medical and Dental Practitioners' Investigation Panel in March 2019 against Dr. Orji. She alleged that the conduct of Dr. Ferdinand Ejike Orji in the management of her son's condition was negligent.
The Panel conducted an investigation of the complaint from March 2019 through November 2020. The investigation involved four other doctors at Excel C Medical Centre including Dr. Ifeyinwa Grace, the paediatrician who had hitherto attended to the patient from his childhood, and five doctors at Reddinton Hospital who attended to the patient including Dr. Ike Nwachukwu who performed the six surgical operations on him at Reddington Hospital.
The complainant and the respondents appeared before the Panel where they had the opportunity to clarify affidavit depositions and other documentary evidence including the patient's case notes, they had submitted to the Panel. The record of proceedings of the investigation obtained by the complainant from the Panel, shows that members of the Panel questioned the doctors extensively on the propriety of their actions in the treatment of the patient. Dr. Ike Nwachukwu was grilled on a letter he authored titled "To Whom it May Concern". In the letter he made disparaging remarks about Dr. Orji including referring to him as a quack. His management of the patient did not appear to have elicited the disapproval of members of the Panel. Dr. Orji was asked several questions like what informed his decision to manipulate the limb without first doing an x-ray to determine the nature of the fracture? Why did he apply fibreglass cast instead of a Plaster of Paris (P.O.P) cast? Why did he not remove the cast when the patient was returned with complaint or pain and tightness? What did he hope to achieve by the square cut in the cast at the back of the knee? Why did he not refer the patient to an orthopaedic surgeon as it went clearly outside his competence as a general surgeon? Did he get informed consent from the patient's mother before he commenced the manipulation and application of cast? His answers were not deemed satisfactory by the constituted professional brethren of good repute and competency as a copy of the report of the investigation obtained by the complainant shows that they made the following findings:

i. Dr. Ejike Orji is a General and Paediatric Surgeon. He is not an orthopaedic surgeon.

ii. Dr. Ejike Orji applied fiberglass cast on the patient at Excel C Medical Centre before he was sent for X-Ray elsewhere.

iii. There is no evidence that appropriate consent was sought and obtained from the patient or his parents by Dr. Ejike Orji.

iv. The patient developed swelling and pain on the left leg after the application of the fiberglass cast and when Dr. Ejike Orji was informed, and he only made a square opening in the popliteal area to relieve the pain and ultimately converted the cast to back slab after the father of the patient requested him to remove the cast.

v. The patient was discharged from Excel C Medical Centre in a worse condition before his parents took him to other hospitals for treatment.

vi. Dr. Ike Nwachukwu attended to the patient as an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Reddington Hospital and made a diagnosis of compartment syndrome. He treated the patient until he was airlifted for further treatment in the United States of America.
Dr. Ike Nwachukwu made comments in the medical report he issued to the patient and his affidavit that were disparaging of his professional colleague who attended to the patient first.

The Panel determined that there is evidence of misconduct in a professional respect against Dr. Ejike Orji and Dr. Ike Nwachukwu and referred each of them to the Disciplinary Tribunal for adjudication.

At the Disciplinary Tribunal the Panel proferred five counts charge against Dr. Ejike Orji. These bothered on gross negligence leading to compartment syndrome and foot drop, manifestation of incompetence in the assessment of the patient, failure to correctly diagnose his condition, failure to obtain appropriate informed consent before carrying out a surgical procedure on the patient and causing detriment to the patient by failing to refer him to an orthopaedic surgeon when it was necessary to do so.

He was to be arraigned and tried before the Disciplinary Tribunal in 2021 however, three attempts were stalled by his absence on a claim of ill health. He further stalled the case by filing an enforcement of fundamental right suit against the Tribunal at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

While the professional case stalled at the Medical and Dental Practitioners' Disciplinary Tribunal, the DPP Lagos State continued with the prosecution of the criminal charge against Dr. Orji at the Lagos State High Court. He was rearraingned in February 2022 on one count of causing grievous bodily harm to Somtochukwu Ezi-Ashi, two counts of endangering human life through reckless and negligent acts and three counts of breach of duty of person doing dangerous acts and endangering human life through reckless and dangerous acts in violation of sections 245, 251(1)(e), 209, 211 and 251(1)(e) respectively of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The judgement shows that the prosecution made copious use of the records of the case they were able to obtain by subpoena from the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel in marshaling the medical evidence against the defendant. They called as witnesses orthopaedic surgeons who participated in the treatment of the victim after he had developed the complication of compartment syndrome.
On 20th January 2023 the Court entered a verdict and convicted Dr. Ferdinand Ejike Orji on four of the six counts. He was sentence to one year in prison on each of the four counts.
The conviction of Dr. Ferdinand Ejike Orji for criminal negligence arising from his reckless and dangerous practice of Medicine is arguably the first time a registered medical practitioner would be so convicted in Nigeria. It is a watershed in medical jurisprudence in Nigeria and hopefully opens the floodgate for many more successful prosecutions of reckless and negligent doctors who had hitherto carried on with impunity.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos High court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square today convicted and sentenced a medical doctor, Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji, to four year imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm, negligence and endangering the life of a 16-year-old patient.

The convict, who is the Medical Director of Excel Medical Centre Dolphin Estate, was found guilty on four of the six counts charge filed by the state against him. Specifically the court finds Dr Ejike Orji guilty on counts 2, 3, 4 and 6.

The court, however discharged and acquitted him on counts 1 and 5 respectfully.

Dr Ejike was initially arraigned alongside his wife Dr (Mrs) Ifeayinwa Grace Orji at the Lagos State high court, Igboaere, but his wife was later discharged and acquitted following an application by the Director of Public Prosecution, that the Lagos State government wishes to discontinue the case against her.

Delivering judgement today , Justice Akintoye held that the Prosecution has been able to established the essential ingredients of the offence of breach of duty, care and endangering the life of the 16-year-old patient.

The court further held that the defendant action falls below what is reasonably expected of a professional medically doctor.

Justice Akintoye held “It my opinion that the defendant committed a breach of duty as a medical practitioner, when he willfully refused to remove the fiberglass cast on the patient left leg despite complaints of severe pains by the victim which thereby resulted in a compartment syndrome.

The court further held that the convict applied Plaster of Paris (POP) cast on PW 10′ leg using none medical staff, and without carrying out an x-ray to determine the level of injury.

Justice Akintoye further stated that Dr Orji did not obtain the consent of the mother of the patient, who was in the hospital as at the time the Plaster of Paris (POP) was done.

“The Defendant had undertaken to carry out the procedure and give medical treatment to PW 10 (patient), which turned out to be injurious to his health.

“The prosecution has been able to establish essential ingredients of the offences of breach of duty. I find that the prosecution has established essential ingredients in court 2, count 3, count 4, and count 6. The prosecution has therefore proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.

“Consequently, on count one and five, the defendant, Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji is thereby found not guilty. On count two, thee, four and six, i found him guilty and he is accordingly convicted. This is the judgement of the court”

In his plea of allocutus, the Defendant’s lawyer, Ajibola Ariba urged the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that that the defendant being a first offender has never been convict for any crime in the past.

He stated that the defendant was born in 1958, and advanced in age. He urged the court to consider an option of fine

After the plea for mercy, Justice Akintoye held “I have listened to plea for liniency on behalf of the Defendant, that the defendant is a first time offender. Therefore, the defendant, Dr. Ejike Ferdinand Orji is hereby convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each on count two, three, four and six.

However, the judge stated that the sentence will run concurrently.

The fact of the case is that the defendant on July 26, 2018, at their hospital fixed a Plaster of Paris cast too tightly on a sixteen-year-old Ezi-Ashi’s leg, which caused him grievous harm.

The victim complained of discomfort and asked that the POP be relaxed, but the defendants allegedly refused, which resulted in the teenager becoming unconscious and he was subsequently rushed to the Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was operated upon.

At the Reddington Hospital, it was discovered that the defendant had sawed off the POP and allegedly damaged the muscles in the lower part of the boy’s leg, foot and toes with wide open sores that were at the initial stage of becoming ‘compartmentalised’.

According to the prosecutor, Babatunde Sunmonu, the victim underwent four major surgeries and following his critical condition, two orthopaedic surgeons from the United States of America extracted the dead muscles from the leg, adding that it was a major struggle to save the boy’s life as he had to be flown to the USA for further attention.

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Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Support our local contractors!
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Even if he doesnt come back, i'm sure Oshinbajo can handle it. Look at him visiting Calabar, even though the Calabar government has not paid this contractor.
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Even if he doesnt come back, i'm sure Oshinbajo can handle it. Look at him visiting Calabar, even though the Calabar government has not paid this contractor.
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar Contractor Not Paid!!!!

Even if he doesnt come back, i'm sure Oshinbajo can handle it. Look at him visiting Calabar, even though the Calabar government has not paid this contractor.
https://www.nairaland.com/3859414/goodluck-ebele-jonathan-bypass-calabar

Foresight is one of the major attributes of leadership. You also must lead by example and in Nigeria where government is the biggest spender, projects initiated should be people oriented and achievable with direct positive impact on the community especially the less privileged.
One such example of this project is the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass Calabar, which was conceived by the erstwhile Governor of Cross Rivers State ( Senator Liyel Imoke).
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bypass Calabar, was commissioned by the Ex-President Jonathan in February 2015, the 7km dual carriage way starts from Atibo roundabout and terminates at the Lemna road, with a flyover and an interchange. This project was initially thought to be unachievable, because of the terrain. Initially a single carriage way terminated at FGGC School in Calabar just after the SSS headquarters because after the FGGC section was a mangrove swamp that spammed over 5km, with thick forest infested with reptiles.
The project was kicked off in 2012 by the state government after careful procurement process and adhering to strict due process procedure; and guidelines, various international companies suggested deck on pile, etc, thereby escalating the project beyond the reach and budget of the state which was struggling with paucity of funds issues and it was awarded to an indigenous firm – Sermatech Nigeria Ltd. at a fraction of the cost, because the procedure adopted for the construction of the road through the swamp was completely innovative and carefully thought through, with the guidance and the close monitoring of a very highly seasoned Consultant – Engr. Bassey Ekanem of Abeno associates and the strong supervision and encouragement of the technical/ engineering crew at the state Ministry of Works, Hon. Leghon Idagbo and Engr. Godwin Akeke. To this end therefore, huge stabilization culverts were introduced to carry water across at every 50 meters, massive sand fill was initiated, and used to capture the swamp, before covering the carriage way with geotextile and geogrid materials which acted as an anti-porous filter membrane and a reinforced barrier, thereafter a 200cm of hardcore was spread all through the carriage way, compacted on to the reinforced membrane ( geogrid), and laid over by 200cm of stone base, then specified binder and wearing course of asphalt, the rest, they say is history.
The impact of this bypass on the traffic from the cement factory through the main town cannot be imagined; neither can the convenience be quantified. This bypass has opened up a new city in Calabar, both residential ( public & private) and industrial. To date all the present administration’s pilot projects have been located on the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bypass in Calabar – from the Garment factory to the Rice Mill and the pharmaceutical industry, all pet projects of Senator ( Prof) Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross Rivers State. It is pertinent to note that Sermatech is an indigenous contractor and 2 years after commissioning Liyel Imoke’s signature project, the contractor has not yet been paid. Recently the bypass was visited by the acting president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to commission and inspect other projects in the area. All these projects are only possible because of the creation of the bypass by Sermatech Nigeria Limited.
This is unfair and unacceptable, paucity of funds should not be an excuse, since billion naira projects have been sited on that same road that has been paid for, in order to support Nigerian owned businesses, keep 100s of Nigerians gainfully employed in this time of recession we urge the government to honour and pay outstanding invoices to the indigenous contractor that performed this feat since government is a continuum.
God bless Cross River State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria