The medical community in Anambra State has expressed outrage over the arrest and detention of a consultant obstetrician, Dr. Chidiebere Ikeotuonye, by the 13th Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as “unjust, unprofessional, and an attack on the medical profession.”
Dr. Ikeotuonye was reportedly invited by Zone 13 Command in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, on Wednesday, following the death of a patient he had operated on.
According to reliable sources, he honoured the invitation alongside other specialists involved in the case, but was subsequently detained after an interaction with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone.
Investigations revealed that the patient underwent a successful surgical procedure but later developed complications.
Another specialist was invited to assist in managing the situation, but despite efforts, the patient eventually died.
Shockingly, the police later charged Dr. Ikeotuonye with murder and conspiracy to murder, a development that has sparked widespread condemnation from the medical community.
During an emergency meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the state chairman, Dr. Princeton Okam, empathized with the family of the deceased.
He however strongly criticized the police for what he described as the “incessant harassment and criminalization of medical practice.”
“It is unfortunate that a doctor would be detained because a medical procedure ended in an unexpected outcome,” Dr. Okam lamented.
“How can anyone allege that a doctor took a patient to the theatre to murder her?
Successful operations
“The patient was operated on successfully; both mother and baby initially survived.
“Unfortunately, the mother later died due to complications. To turn that into a murder charge is a dangerous precedent.”
He argued that if the family of the deceased felt aggrieved, the lawful step would have been to file a civil suit for negligence, not a criminal prosecution for murder.
“Where did the charge of murder and conspiracy to murder come from?” he queried.
“If we go by that logic, then every police officer who fails to prevent a killing should also be called a murderer.”
The NMA chairman described the incident as another example of how health workers in Anambra have become “endangered species.”
He recalled that only a few weeks earlier, a medical doctor was kidnapped by criminals, and now, doctors face intimidation from the same law enforcement agencies meant to protect them.
“Sometime ago, another doctor was detained for over 13 days in the same Zone 13 over a similar issue,” he said.
“We cannot continue to work under this climate of fear. If this harassment does not stop, there will be no doctor willing to take up emergency cases for fear of being criminalized when outcomes turn tragic.”
Dr. Okam warned that the NMA would take drastic action if the detained consultant was not released promptly.
24-hour ultimatum
“We are giving the police 24 hours to release Dr. Ikeotuonye or charge him to court as the law stipulates,” he declared.
“If this is not done, we will shut down all healthcare services across Anambra State. Enough is enough.”
He emphasized that while the association does not trivialize the loss of any patient, the law provides clear procedures for investigating medical errors or negligence.
“If a doctor is found guilty by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), his license can be withdrawn.
“That’s the proper channel, not unlawful detention and intimidation.”
When contacted, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Ihunwo, confirmed that the AIG had intervened and resolved the issue amicably.
He added that Dr. Ikeotuonye had been released.
However, it remains unclear whether the purported charges of murder and conspiracy to murder have been withdrawn.
Some doctors also confirmed the release of their colleague but maintained that the charges “cannot stand in any rational court of law.”
They appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to safeguard the state’s healthcare system from what they described as “unwarranted attacks and intimidation.”
They also called on the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, to engage with the police authorities and ensure that medical practitioners in the state are allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment.
“The continued harassment of medical professionals will only worsen the already fragile healthcare system,” one senior doctor remarked.
“If doctors cannot operate freely, patients will be the ultimate victims.”
As of press time, normalcy has reportedly returned, but the medical community continues to demand justice and systemic reform to prevent a recurrence of what they call “the criminalization of medical duty.”
