The Lagos State Police Command has warned that any doctor or hospital that rejects gunshot victims will get a five-year jail term.
The police reiterated the stance of the law after a Reddington hospital in Ikeja, Lagos rejected a gunshot victim who eventually died.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Imohimi Edgal, has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in the state to henceforth prosecute any medical practitioners, who reject gunshot victims for reasons of no police report,” a statement by the state police read.
“Medical doctors should note that the Act recommends a five-year-jail term for any person, hospital or authority, who stands by or omits to do his bit, which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds,” SP Chike Oti, spokesperson for the police said.
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Chike identified the deceased victim as a senior engineer, Mr Adebayo Akinwunmi, with one information and communications technology company.
He said he was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun.
“He was brought to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja for treatment only to be refused admission on the grounds that there was no police report.
“The command considers the action of the hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management may be ignorant of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017.
“In the light of this development, the Command wishes to inform all medical practitioners in Lagos state, that the Act demands that every hospital in Nigeria, whether public or private;
“Shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wounds.
