… say ‘we’re tired of their unethical conduct
Patients, especially pregnant mothers at the ante-natal section of the Gbagada General Hospital, have deplored the alleged unethical attitude of doctors attending to patients at the facility on a weekly basis.
The hospital is patronised everyday by a high number of patients.
Despite the state government’s efforts at providing quality healthcare to all residents, some health workers at the hospital have been accused of trying to sabotage such efforts with unethical practices.
I was directed to one of the gynecologists, who was to attend to me. But on getting to him, he asked why I didn’t come on time. I told him I was held up in traffic; the next thing was that he shouted at me to get out of his office
A pregnant mother of two, Mrs. Afolashe Ajayi, told our correspondent that such unethical attitude allegedly displayed by doctors at the hospital had lingered for a long time; as far back as when she started giving birth to her children at the Gbagada General Hospital.
She noted that doctors at the hospital were insensitive and harsh while offering their services, not minding the pains these pregnant woman experience.
Ajayi alleged that the doctors had formed the habit of flinging patients’ files at them whenever they felt unsatisfied and impatient with the case concerning any one of them.
She alleged, “Recently, I went for my ante natal checkup at Gbagada Hospital, which normally starts by 8am, but, unfortunately, I got there around 11am due to the fact that I was feeling very feverish and also encountered a serious traffic jam on the way.
“By the time I got there, I was directed to one of the gynecologists, who was to attend to me. But on getting to him, he asked why I didn’t come on time. I told him I was held up in traffic; the next thing was that he shouted at me to get out of his office, with disdain on his face. I felt so bad; I had to leave and wait for my next ante natal appointment.”
Another pregnant woman, who simply gave her name as Favour, told our correspondent that as a first time mother, she didn’t really know the processes involved in the whole ante-natal process.
She said that she went for an appointment and the doctor who attended to her, during their discussion, found out that she skipped a particular laboratory test. Rather than telling her in a polite manner to go for another test, she said that the doctor flung her file at her face.
“When I got there, I went to see the doctor; he asked if I had done a particular lab test before coming. I said no; he just flung my case file at my face and I felt should that be the proper way to explain things to people. Despite all the efforts of the state government at ensuring quality healthcare for Lagosians, I appeal to Governor Ambode to checkmate the activities of these doctors and other staff,” Ajayi said.
Another patient, who is six months pregnant but pleaded anonymity, explained that she went for an appointment at the same hospital and a scan was conducted on her. She added that when she asked for the sex of the foetus, the doctor didn’t respond to her inquiry. But after repeating her question, the doctor shouted at her, saying it was either a boy or a girl or what else did she expect than either of the two sexes.
When contacted, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeoba Adeniji-Adele, said that routine checks were always carried out on a daily basis at every unit of the facility to ensure the offering of hitch-free services to the people.
Adeniji-Adele pledged to speak with the hospital’s medical director on the issue and give a feedback.
“I will get back to you when I speak to the medical director and be assured that issues like this will be sorted out. I go around almost all units on a daily basis to ensure that there are no problems, even though I may not cover everywhere. We do train these people all the time. So, I believe it is an orientation issue. I will speak to my MD and give you a feedback,”
he said.
