An enraged father got out of control at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta on Friday, March 12, as he unleashed his anger on a medical doctor after losing his 15 months baby to alleged negligence.
Information gathered said he hit the doctor on the head several times with a chair, beating him to a pulp before the doctor was rescued.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Public Relations and Information of the hospital, Segun Orisajo, the incident occurred on Friday around 12 am at the Children Emergency Room of the hospital.
According to Orisajo, the Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu, while reacting to the physical attack meted out on the doctor by a parent, warned that the management of the hospital would no longer tolerate assault on any of its staff by patients or their relatives.
The statement read;
“The 15 months old toddler was rushed to the Children Emergency Room by her parents on Friday 12th March, 2021 at about 8.00 pm.
“The enraged man hit the doctor on the head several times with a chair before help could come his way.
“On presentation, the baby had a history of severe fever of one month, weight loss of one month, irritability, and loss of head control.
“On evaluation at the Centre, the baby was immediately taken in and necessary medical attention commenced.
“On complaints by the parents that they were financially challenged, the management waived all the laboratory investigation bills as well as emergency medications.
“However, at about 12 midnight the baby passed on barely four hours after arriving at the Centre.
“On hearing about the death of his daughter, his father threw caution to the wind and beat to a pulp the Medical staff who attended to his daughter, citing delay in treatment.
“The enraged man hit the doctor on the head several times with a chair before help could come his way.
“The Medical Director sympathized with the bereaved family, while at the same time attributed the loss of the toddler to very late presentation.
“Something should have told the parents that keeping a baby that was losing weight with a sustained high temperature at home for a whole month was a dangerous thing to do by any parent.
“No doubt, we tried our best to save the toddler’s life although the situation would have been a different one if she had been presented early.
“Prof. Musa-Olomu disclosed that the latest attack and assault will be the fourth on his staff in recent times.
“He, therefore, warned in strong terms that henceforth, the law would be allowed to take its full course on anyone caught assaulting or with the intention to assault any of his staff” Orisajo read.
