Doctor Fondles Female Patient

 

An inpatient pregnant woman (names withheld) recently shared an unfortunate experience she had while on admission at a Ifako -Ijaye General Hospital in Lagos but she chose not to report the incidence because “he accepted his fault and apologized repeatedly” she recalled. According to her ” I was experiencing some pains during labour, I had complained to the consultant who assured me that it was not out of the ordinary.

 

The pain was persistent much later in the evening. I panicked.” ” I was worried and seriously disturbed. Negative thought was creeping in. I could not resist the urge to consult one of the young doctors who was on night duty. He promptly responded.

 

He felt some parts of my big tummy and then requested I open up. He inserted his bare hands in my vagina and eventually told me I was just panicky.” She went on “I felt relieved by his assuring affirmation”. She however re-evaluated the incidence and remembered that the Doctor ignored the box of gloves by her side table which every patient is mandated to have when on such admission.

 

“I felt uncomfortable with the scenario. Even if I was overwhelmed, he should be calm and be more professional.” She confronted him. He was said to have agreed that indeed his action was unprofessional. He pleaded with the woman not to lodge the complaint before his superiors as it will be a major dent on his professional career or make him lose his job. “He kept checking on me and apologizing.

 

Until I felt embarrassed and gave him my word not to report him to the authorities”. Dr Kola Afolabi, Medical Director of Ago Medical Center, Lagos said “It is unhygienic. There is high risk of infecting the innocent woman or getting himself infected.

 

 It is unethical. Totally unacceptable” Another Medical Practitioner who spoke under anonymity stated “ It is obvious that he is attracted to the woman and saw that as an opportunity to fondle her, rather than examine her. He deserves to be punished.”