To allay the fears of police victimisation and ensure that gunshot victims receive prompt treatment, a law was enacted by the National Assembly. SILVER NWOKORO reports that despite the existence of this law, hospitals and their staff insist on seeing police reports before the commencement of treatment to victims, thereby abandoning the Hippocratic Oath to save lives.
Despite the existence of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, hospitals in Nigeria have continued to abandon emergency patients in contravention of the extant law.
Section 11 of the Act clearly states: “Any person or authority including any police officer, other security agent or hospital who stands by and fails to perform his duty under this Act which results in the unnecessary death of any person with gunshot wounds commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000 or imprisonment…
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