Tribunal Strikes Off Doctor’s Name From Register

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has
struck out the name of one Dr Sunday Elusoji from its register for
conducting himself infamously while attending to one Mr. Uwa Osagie
at his private health facility Our Medical Centre (a.k.a Our
Hospital) at No. 2, Jemila Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.

In a four-count charge, Elusoji, who is a registered Medical
Practitioner and Consultant Surgeon engaged at University of Benin
Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, was found guilty
of a three-count charge of malpractice, operating his private
clinic while under the employment of the UBTH and pretended to have
managed the said patient at the UBTH by issuing a medical report
using the letterhead of the UBTH.

Although the patient eventually lost his right leg, the
Prosecution Counsel could not prove the manner in which Elusoji
administered the treatment on the patient caused the patient’s loss
of leg.

The patient (the complainant) had on the 10th of March, 2013,
visited the said doctor after sustaining a gunshot injury to his
right leg from robbers.

The doctor however failed to take an x-ray on the patient to
determine the level of damage before he carried out treatment on
the patient.

Also, instead of treating the patient in his primary place of
employment, he managed the patient at his private clinic.

While delivering his judgment in Abuja, Chairman of the Medical
and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, Prof Abba Waziri
Hassan, said: “There is no moral justification to an act of
malpractice, the respondent ought to know based on his standing in
the profession that his action is unethical.

“This count has been established by the prosecution, and it is
really so unfortunate that the respondent who is a Professor of
Surgery in the School of Medicine will engage in such an
unprofessional and infamous conduct in a professional respect. The
tribunal finds the respondent guilty as charged under this
count.

“On count four, the tribunal finds that the respondent owns and
operates ‘Our Medical Centre,’ admitted patients who by themselves
deposed to witness statement on oath in support of a civil suit he
filed at the High court, that is the witness statements on oath of
Edna Ebasonah, Sandra Owie, both of whom attest to the fact that
the respondent is the proprietor of the clinic.

“The tribunal therefore has no difficulty based on the totality
of the evidence placed before this tribunal – to find the
respondent guilty as charged on count 4. His name is struck-off the
Register.”

In another case of a three count-charge against one Dr Adolphus
Oriaifo, a registered medical practitioner and consultant surgeon
at Ajayi Oriaifo Memorial Hospital at No 1 Felix Elema Street Off
Reuben Agho Avenue G.R.A. Benin City, Edo State, he was found
guilty of all the charges.

The Tribunal noted he was manifestly incompetent and grossly
negligent in the management of the condition of one Mr Augustine
Dike, now deceased, between 17th and 29th of September 2013.

He got six- month suspension.

Other doctors – Silas Ochejele, Olaide Festus Bolaji, and
Adeshina Jenrola- were not found guilty in their different case
trials.

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has
struck out the name of one Dr Sunday Elusoji from its register for
conducting himself infamously while attending to one Mr. Uwa Osagie
at his private health facility Our Medical Centre (a.k.a Our
Hospital) at No. 2, Jemila Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.

In a four-count charge, Elusoji, who is a registered Medical
Practitioner and Consultant Surgeon engaged at University of Benin
Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, was found guilty
of a three-count charge of malpractice, operating his private
clinic while under the employment of the UBTH and pretended to have
managed the said patient at the UBTH by issuing a medical report
using the letterhead of the UBTH.

Although the patient eventually lost his right leg, the
Prosecution Counsel could not prove the manner in which Elusoji
administered the treatment on the patient caused the patient’s loss
of leg.

The patient (the complainant) had on the 10th of March, 2013,
visited the said doctor after sustaining a gunshot injury to his
right leg from robbers.

The doctor however failed to take an x-ray on the patient to
determine the level of damage before he carried out treatment on
the patient.

Also, instead of treating the patient in his primary place of
employment, he managed the patient at his private clinic.

While delivering his judgment in Abuja, Chairman of the Medical
and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, Prof Abba Waziri
Hassan, said: “There is no moral justification to an act of
malpractice, the respondent ought to know based on his standing in
the profession that his action is unethical.

“This count has been established by the prosecution, and it is
really so unfortunate that the respondent who is a Professor of
Surgery in the School of Medicine will engage in such an
unprofessional and infamous conduct in a professional respect. The
tribunal finds the respondent guilty as charged under this
count.

“On count four, the tribunal finds that the respondent owns and
operates ‘Our Medical Centre,’ admitted patients who by themselves
deposed to witness statement on oath in support of a civil suit he
filed at the High court, that is the witness statements on oath of
Edna Ebasonah, Sandra Owie, both of whom attest to the fact that
the respondent is the proprietor of the clinic.

“The tribunal therefore has no difficulty based on the totality
of the evidence placed before this tribunal – to find the
respondent guilty as charged on count 4. His name is struck-off the
Register.”

In another case of a three count-charge against one Dr Adolphus
Oriaifo, a registered medical practitioner and consultant surgeon
at Ajayi Oriaifo Memorial Hospital at No 1 Felix Elema Street Off
Reuben Agho Avenue G.R.A. Benin City, Edo State, he was found
guilty of all the charges.

The Tribunal noted he was manifestly incompetent and grossly
negligent in the management of the condition of one Mr Augustine
Dike, now deceased, between 17th and 29th of September 2013.

He got six- month suspension.

Other doctors – Silas Ochejele, Olaide Festus Bolaji, and
Adeshina Jenrola- were not found guilty in their different case
trials.