The Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal says that the name of Prof. Sunday Elusoji, a consultant surgeon at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Medical Director of Our Medical Centre, has been struck off its membership register.
Elusoji was accused of conducting himself infamously while attending to one Mr Uwa Osagie at his private health facility situated at 2 Jemila Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.
In a four-count charge, Elusoji was found guilty of a three-count of malpractice, operating his private clinic while still UBTH’s employment and for pretending to have managed the said patient at the teaching hospital by issuing a medical report using UBTH letterhead.
Although the patient eventually lost his right leg, the prosecution counsel could not prove the manner in which Elusoji administered the treatment which caused the patient’s loss of a leg.
The patient (the complainant) had on March 10, 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 commencing his treatment.
Also, instead of treating the patient in his primary place of employment, he went on to manage 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 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 GRA. Benin City, Edo State, was found guilty of all the charges.
The Tribunal noted that he was manifestly incompetent and grossly negligent in the management of the condition of one Mr Augustine Dike, now deceased, between 17th and 29th September 2013.
He got a six-month suspension.
Other doctors – Silas Ochejele, Olaide Festus Bolaji, and Adeshina Jenrola- were not found guilty in their different case trials.
