By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki
A policeman, who lost his child at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki(AE-FUTHA), on Wednesday allegedly assaulted a doctor at the hospital.
The policeman whose name could not be immediately ascertained had taken his sick child to the hospital for medical examination.
Though details of what transpired were still sketchy at the time of this report, it was learnt that alleged mismanagement of the child’s treatment, which led to the baby’s death may have infuriated the father leading to his actions.
A source in the hospital alleged that a medical doctor had prescribed drugs for the baby and it was procured and injected on the child.
But another doctor came in and allegedly prescribed another set of drugs and questioned why the first doctor recommended the drugs for the baby.
A source in the hospital told our correspondent that the drugs recommended by the second doctor were later administered on the baby, which led to her death some minutes after.
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“The policeman then confronted the first doctor and held him on the neck over the death of the baby patient.
‘’One of the doctors who were on duty came from behind and slapped the policeman and the policeman retaliated,” the source who did not want his name in print said.
The incident caused crisis in the hospital and it took the intervention of the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah and Commissioner of Police to calm the situation.
Following the incident, Association of Resident Doctors in the hospital held emergency meeting but details of the meeting could not be disclosed.
Speaking to journalists in his office, the CMD of the hospital Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah said he has eased into the matter.
“It is being handled, I just came back from police station. The Association of Resident Doctors their exco, then my own management team went to see the Commissioner of police.
“But one thing I have to say is that the man did not assault our doctor because he was a police officer.
“He did it on his own because he was the one who brought the child to the hospital because he is working with Ebonyi state Police Command, courtesy demands that we report him to his primary place of work. That is what is happening.
“We are happy that the CP is handling the matter well. We have had discussions with him and we have made our official complaint.
“He has immediately minuted it to the Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of intelligence to take up the matter and investigate let us see what has happened and the best way to handle it.
“I have appealed to the Resident Doctors to calm down, that management will see that justice is done.
“Our interest is to protect the lives of every person working here including our patients. Any patient here is under our care,” Onwe said.
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