Dear LIB readers; Letter from another Nigerian doctor | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Friday 20 March 2015

Dear LIB readers; Letter from another Nigerian doctor

This is in response to this. Read below...
This write-up is from a Nigerian doctor to your LIB fans who responded to your post about the doctor that “forgot” a pad in a lady. What I think happened is that the woman had a pad placed to absorb the vaginal bleeding after the surgery. The pad was placed in the vagina and left there for two days, at which point the woman left her hospital bed for the doctor’s office to complain about it. Whatever the case, leaving that pad there for 2 days was an oversight on the team’s part whether the patient was informed to remove it or not, and it could have led to infections and other complications. For that, the doctor and nurses were at fault no matter the reason.
But what I want to address is the general hostile attitude of the public towards doctors over reasons such as: doctors are proud and arrogant, they love money, they are incompetent, etc. I can’t address all these points, but I’d love to address the obvious expectation of the Nigerian public that doctors should, in fact, be PERFECT.

Let’s start from the beginning of a doctor’s career: the training. Nigerian doctors are trained in the same Nigerian universities that produce virtually-intact illiterates. I mean graduates that cannot speak or write good English or spell words correctly (like most of those that comment on your blog or on Facebook). Just a few weeks ago, we gave a “corper” a form to fill and where she was to fill her “sex” after her name and age, she wrote “about twice a week” instead of “female.” Wow! And then she proceeded to bombard us with spelling and grammatical errors, yet she was teaching in a primary school. A graduate! Most Nigerian graduates cannot defend what they claim to have spent 4-5 years studying because of the low quality of education they receive. But the Nigerian doctors trained in these same universities are expected to sparkle like their foreign counterparts? Seriously? 

Let’s go to the issue of competence. A lot of doctors do great things every single day. I mean, a lot! But when a few doctors out of the thousands in the country do something wrong, it’s generalized. What about other professionals in Nigeria? Take engineers, for example. How are the roads in our country? I mean the ones that have been repaired about 5 times with billions of naira and still have gaping pot holes? What about the buildings and bridges that collapse all over the country? Or the road drains that don’t lead anywhere and only store stagnant water and garbage? Or the electric poles and street lights that fall on their own? Why does no one scream about the incompetence of our engineers? What about the bankers that steal from clients’ accounts? Every field inevitably has “bad eggs;” you don’t generalize what you experience with one case to every one!

Now, most of the government hospitals your government gives us to work in lack the basic resources needed for proper health care. They either don’t have equipment, or have non-functioning or out-dated ones - like X-ray, CT, and ECG machines built in the 80’s. Laboratory reagents and machines needed to carry out basic tests for diagnosis are usually lacking; of course, advanced tests are only read about in medical textbooks. Some expensive private labs I know send patients’ blood and other samples to S/Africa! We, the doctors, are not responsible for providing these equipment or paraphernalia; the government is. Yet when you come to the hospital and we are essentially handicapped, you’d say “these doctors don’t even know what they are treating or doing.” Even ordinary syringes, IV cannulas, urethral catheters etc are scarce commodities; it’s in Nigeria that syringes are prescribed with drugs for patients. As for the drugs? Even the “out-dated” drugs that were discovered decades ago that we still use (even though our foreign counterparts have abandoned them) are not readily available. Modern drugs can easily be gotten in South Africa or Egypt but not Nigeria. How then would the Nigerian doctor be able to make that same diagnosis that those doctors make? Or even treat you? Or treat the most basic of health issues? My people, don’t just shout. Think!!!

Should I talk about the staff shortage? Do you know that in developed countries it is illegal to work for a particular number of hours on a stretch? Even for company drivers, not to talk of doctors. It is because when you rest after some work, you function better later on. I once worked in a delicate unit in a teaching hospital where I was on call for one month straight! I would work in the morning from 8am – 4pm and then start my call from 4pm to 8am the next day (while most of you were in clubs or with your families). For one full month! Shebi I’m a machine? Or a slave? And I don’t want to see my family because they are masquerades, right? And then one night, while I was on the 5th floor attending to a delicate patient we performed surgery on earlier in the day, they started calling me at Accident/Emergency (ground floor) for an emergency case that just rushed in for my unit. The same me that had to attend to this patient who needed immediate attention? The same me that stood all day in the theatre? The same me that hadn’t had a good night’s rest for almost 2wks? I didn’t have 4 hands, 8 legs or 10 heads, so I had to hurriedly finish with the patient upstairs and fly down there. If you were the one that came to the A/E with a loved one, you would say “the doctor wasn’t even around” or “the doctor was sleeping” and you would start screaming at me when I finally show up. Because you’re in your own world that’s very different from mine. When you see me unavoidably grumpy and irritable after two weeks of such calls, you would say doctors are rude and arrogant. Or when I end up forgetting something or doing something wrong cos of how over-worked I’ve been, you would scream murder! It’s depressing. I didn’t choose to work like that; I was forced to! You want to sue? I’m looking for who to sue too!

I have a lot to say, but let me stop and summarize: the Nigerian system as a whole is riddled with corruption and all its consequences. Nothing works, nothing is as it should be. The health care sector is part of the Nigerian system; you can’t have other sectors like power, agriculture, economy, judiciary, even foreign affairs (remember Morocco?) in a depressing mess and expect the health care sector to be all shiny and rosy simply because life is involved; the same issues affecting the others also affect it. It’s true that there are cases of malpractice now and then (which happen even in developed countries), but the main issue in most cases is the poor health care structure we have to work with. Until we can get our leaders to see such important things as important, you’ll just keep complaining. And until our leaders are constitutionally forced to send their children to Nigerian universities and seek medical care in Nigerian government hospitals (which would make them put things in order), nothing will change.
Thank you.

244 comments:

1 – 200 of 244   Newer›   Newest»
AbokiDaWarriBoy said...

At least this doctor sound better dan d oda qwack Dr.

Unknown said...

Okiie, at least this doctor is well mannered, one can tell from his write up. God bless all good doctors. Linda take note!

BONARIO NNAGS said...

You've made your point already,no need for the unnecessary story.

~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

Anonymous said...

Hmm.. Supporting the nurse?




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Sexy Anon said...

Two words to describe this? "Too Long"

Unknown said...

Did I read it?????

bad mamma jamma said...

So deep I must say!

Anonymous said...

Abeg park well and stop lying... dee

Anonymous said...

Word. Happens everyday in Nigeria government owned hospital. I remember when my mum was on d dying bed and we were begging d nurse to come and fix d oxygen mask, and she was so rude and took all d tym in d world telling us she's not a slave. Staff shortage is their basic problem

Unknown said...

Thank God u knw is a big mistake on d part of d nurses n dr of d hospital. Dey shd focus on wat dey r doing n nt gt distracted

Unknown said...

Thank God u knw is a big mistake on d part of d nurses n dr of d hospital. Dey shd focus on wat dey r doing n nt gt distracted

Unknown said...

Thank God u knw is a big mistake on d part of d nurses n dr of d hospital. Dey shd focus on wat dey r doing n nt gt distracted

Anonymous said...

True talk Well said.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. ....you have given the best answer to this situation

ifem said...

Epistle

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Unknown said...

God bless for such a wonderful article

Unknown said...

All this is really getting boring

Anonymous said...

Excellent ! Sometimes I don't blame theses doctors. Things don't go as smooth in Nigerian hospitals as they do abroad.. For instance, when an accident victim is brought in to a hospital abroad, they immediately begin tests and place then on the necessary treatments but here in Nigeria, its either there is no machine to do the test, or there is no light or there is even no bedspace in the ward. Then the patient dies and the doctors are blamed. I pray God will save us from our heartless politicians and make our Nigeria better.

MADE IN NIGERIA said...

Lolzzzz, I really can't stop laughing!!! Like seriously, dat corper girl's certificate, must be confisticated!!! WTF??? And come 2 think of it, sex twice a week? She is really under-doing it, it should be like 5 times a week *winks*.... LOL. Back 2 d topic, I think I understand what d doctor is saying but hey!! Its a human life ur handling, so whether ur stressed out or not, you must really try 2 be very cautious....

Rev fr vincent said...

God bless you Dr

Anonymous said...

Well said dr!!!!.

Anonymous said...

Well said Dr

NMaa said...

Long write ups trending. #yawns#

Unknown said...

Which one will we follow now?
Two different doctors with different opinions,
Well lemme just sit tight and read comments.

Anonymous said...

Very well put together, am also a doctor and the biggest issue i have now is the wife of the medical director of the govt parastatal hosp where i work, who is not a doctor, but keeps interfering , she is such a wicked heartless human being, her dad was a doctor, hubby n brother r doctors but shes not and has no idea how we work, but shes very quick to issue queries to doctors, tell me her level of understanding !!! You pepple dont respect nigerian doctors, too bad cuz b4 u go to india, u will need a nigerian doctor to stabilize u

Anonymous said...

Very good article please let's give credit when due. Doctors in nigeria are not well taken care of and the shortage of doctors is appalling especially in general hospitals where patients are in a hundreds. My sister had her pad forgotten too after delivery, she started smelling after some days before she knew the pad was rotten. After my cyst surgery I had a little bandage put in to stop the bleeding which I was asked to remove when cleaning up which I did. Patient's too should take care of themselves na as a woman you no dey wash nyash ni if doctor forget can't you remember on your own. Nigerians like to spoonfed, make una dey wait inugo. Dem never forget scissors inside person belle in the abroad after surgery ni. Doctors are trying abeg.

BigChic said...

Thank you so much for the write up.

Unknown said...

On fleek!

Anonymous said...

NICE 1

Anonymous said...

Thanks doc for d enlightenment

Anonymous said...

God bless uoooo. I almost had premature baby after working in NNU for straight 72hrs. And then they called us that a woman who is 28wks pregnant is abt to have a surgery so we shld come and save the baby so dt the baby won't die(as paediatric thing). Meanwhile me av bn bleeding and having cramps over 24hrs with my baby barely 26wks and 5yrs of marriage with no child. Nobody to come relieve me cos no enough doctors. My dear after a point, I was contracting seriously. My senior colleague bundled me out of that place ASAP. I remember his exact words. Ur baby and life is important to u and ur family members as this woman's life is to her family. If u loose ur baby after 5yrs of trying to concieve, life will go on. Doctors are humans and deserve better than how the govt is treating them. The working conditn is terrible. The only thing patients don't buy in luth is specimen bottle. It even got to a time when we ask patients to go and make photocopy of prescription paper. Things are that bad. Nigerian politicians should be banned frm seeking healthcare overseas and see what will happen to our hospitals in a matter of 2yrs.

Anonymous said...

Abeg Abeg, this is about work ethics and customer service, whether or not the doctor knew what he/she was doin the approach the doctor took was wrong and unacceptable, u don't need to be trained abroad to know courtesy demands you speak to people right please. Even when you are dealing with an irate patient. Just bcos one person is in d wrong doesn't mean you should follow join am do d wrong thing, pls ya'll should do the right thing and act professional. No body send una make u go read medicine so being courteous and polite comes with d job besides we have to feel safe with doctors init.

NK said...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, na waoh! well said Doc

Anonymous said...

True talk and until those in power see the need to send their kids/wards to naija universities and patronize local health services, instead of seeking such in the US, UK or India, then working conditions might get better.

Debbie Chelsea said...

Wow....lindodo I'm in love with d doctor already..doctor u are very intelligent....well said

Anonymous said...

U guys are incompetent....I lost my sister to a doctor's negligence and gross incompetence

Anonymous said...

VERuLE Says-gud to kn.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the response. I hv long since stopped responding to negative comments abt drs.

Unknown said...

Oh! Another epistles of doctors and patients/LIB readers. Linda thanks for dis it's so lovely. We apr8. Madam or Sir doctor u r absolutely right abt wht u said but pls use "don't" not "didn't". In "I didn’t have 4 hands, 8 legs or 10 heads,"

D doctor is as quillible as his words. No one I droped and abandoned d dream of becoming a doctor bcos they suck.

Anonymous said...

VERuLE Says-gud to kn.

Anonymous said...

Very apt. I can totally relate wit all d points raised. The fault is not d doctors', who has failed to deliver d best services in the face of all the challenges. The fault is not the patients', who wants to get the best inspite of all the limitations. But I gues we can put d blame on the govt, who has misplaced her priority. How would they kno what a common man goes thru in LUTH, UCH, JUTH and UBTH, when they can go to Germany for routine medical check up. We need change. It's plain madness when we keep decivn ourselves tht d country is workn.

Unknown said...

GovT hospitals are all fucked

Unknown said...

True talk

Chuma Anumiri said...

Nice piece written in shiny words, and good thing you also proffered solutions to the ills terribly gnawing deep into our deplorable system. Well done doctor. However, you must not forget the glistening arrogance and nonchalance of which most of your counterparts operate. Wouldn't want to cite hospitals or names of mischievous doctors I have encountered as a one time (un)fortunate patient, to be attended to by a doctor who while he treated me stole a quick kiss from a nurse who worked with him. Not to make a fuss of the whole working atmosphere of the entire medical team of the "esteemed hospital". Thank you too!

Ay said...

Nigeria my country, everything is corrupt. The money meant for the health care sector has miraculously disappeared into some pockets.The world has left us behind. Sai Buhari we can't wait for you to take over and sanitise the system.

Olamoya said...

Much love to you my colleague for this wonderful piece

ammy said...

Doctors do a lot of work

Anonymous said...

So well said, thanks. I wish Nigerians will begin to call her leaders to order,rather than blaming the average doctor who is expected to give his hearts best with very little support in terms of facilties and a conducive work environment.

sexynerd said...

Pls help me tell d retards. The painful thing s someone will come to the comments session and say " the write up is too long. Someone summarise" or some such dumb sh*t. When did we get so mentally lazy? You don't know anything; you will not read to improve yourself unless it's about 1 dumb celebrity or the other? Yet your ignorant voice will be the loudest. Idjits

ujunwa said...

Kpomkwem!!! My brother you have spoken well. I just wish our leader will see your write up,I just wish.

Unknown said...

Chai! This young Dr is too much. He's so right. Nothing works in Nigeria. See how Goodluck is sharing Dollars to south west leaders and refused to pay customs officers their 13th month salary. Na we raise d revenue u are enjoying o. Wicked leaders

Anonymous said...

Thank you my dear, God bless u! I myself know of colleagues dat have performed surgery using phone torch bcos Nepa took light after they had startd and d hospital gen wz not turned on cos no diesel. Govt hospital of course. It happens over and over. Yet dem go blame d doctor too if anythn spoil. #datsnaija4u #diarisgod

Anonymous said...

I salute your comments. I am a doctor and i am so glad i abandoned Nigeria for Europe many years ago. I am an Internist now and i am very fufilled here. When doctors take calls here,they get the next day off work. Nothing like back to back calls like we call it in Nigeria. I am so relieved i dont have to bother with dirty smelly wards, risk of infections. Nigerian health workers dont have the right protective materials, they use outdated equipments, disinfection agents are not adequate. When u are on admission in Nigeria, the nurses will tell you to buy Jik,syringe,needles ,glovese.t.c. Make we cover face oh!!!!!. Hospitals like Adeoyo in Ibadan will even tell their pregnant women in Labour to lay their own beds!!!
As for Equipments,most Nigerian doctors have lost interest in their jobs. For example it is in Nigeria that Radiologists do Ultrasounds. Abroad it is a basic tool for every practising physician.
If one tenth of the stolen funds, Campaign funds will be invested in Healthcare alone.You will realise Nigeria has a brilliant crop of doctors
willing to do all to save lives.
All this will only work with a functional health
insurance.
God bless Nigeria.

mandy said...

Dockay you too much. I don tire for naija. I dy carry my stethoscope and arrogant head go Canada. Enough s enough of this rubbish

eka said...

truly truly; we need to overhaul our system
alongside our thinking..

Anonymous said...

i agree with you. all institutions in nigeria are deficient. i have been pondering of late; where does Buhari want to start from on May 29 when he is sworn in? is it police, efcc, army...all corrupt. is it judiciary? corrupt. is it power, oil, telecomms? all corrupt. i dont think Buhari has done a proper assessment of the decay over time. 2015 nigeria is different from 1983 nigeria. the country is a failed state. i see no reason why we cannot loan nigeria to UK or US for 10 years to manage or recolonise us and put us back on track. there is something inherently wrong with the consciousness of the nigerian mind.

Anonymous said...

I am a female doctor and I feel u sir..I ve worked like u,not even knowing feel of my bed Tell them(i.e. If they can comprehend)..Poor working condition in public hospitals. Sometimes I go to work with my gloves,cotton wool.glucometer to make my job easier..Dr Kemmy

Davido's driver said...

Well understood

Anonymous said...

Gbam! Well written. I concur.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely agree with you on this article. Its just a sorry case for the nation. The annoying part is that lots of politicians do travel abroad but for once, none of them seem to transfer their exposure to their beloved country. No wonder lots of people are looking for a way to leave the country. That's another story entirely because it depends on the resources and the connections you have.

Kponskii said...

Na wah Ooo. Who we wan blame na? I think Naija doctors (most of em) work hard and know their onion. However, majority of em lack empathy.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely agree with you on this article. Its just a sorry case for the nation. The annoying part is that lots of politicians do travel abroad but for once, none of them seem to transfer their exposure to their beloved country. No wonder lots of people are looking for a way to leave the country. That's another story entirely because it depends on the resources and the connections you have.

Unknown said...

hmmmmmmmmm.........To all doctors in d house....Make una no vex eh.....emabino........I understand ...av always understood........Nigeria will be better..........










Moye says so via BB Passport...Courtesy LIB....

#Loveme# said...

Well said.... for once I agree with d docs esp from ur point of view unlike those who cry for increase in salary solely.....

chio said...

Gbam!!! Everything on point!

slimshaddy20 said...

Foreign doctor or native doctor!!!!!!!Doctor na doctor. Hw do u expect me to read dat Simon. Abgiiiiiiiiii

Kyke said...

Too long, I read 1/4th!!

knowurway.com said...

Good respond and may God bless the doctors who wrote this letter... Nigerians wake-up! I pledge to Nigeria my country to vote Buhari and Osinbajo on 28 of march, to be gentle, loyal on election day, to say NO TO GEJ and PDP party again with all my strength, to protect my PVC even close to polling booths and uphold no violence and trouble.. So help me God..
Forward this to ur frnds if u love Nigeria ur country, enough is enough PDP and GEJ corrupt Government must go. #ihavedecided to vote for #change#

Kyke said...

Too long, I read 1/4th!!

Anonymous said...

Am so grateful for dis write up.i agree that there are aa few bad eggs in d profession andd Dats sad. Leaving dat pad there is a fault of d entire medical team and should not be tolerated. However the working environment is very inhumane. There is an extreme paucity of doctors and equipments. Just about an hour back a doctor in Obs and Gynae had total brain fatigue and almost fainted cuz of d same continuous call for a week + ! Remember most women give birth at night too!

Anonymous said...

Yes ohh we doctors work like machines nd the average Nigerian will make certain comments that will make u not want to do anything...

Dr Lehwarh said...

Very well said!

Anonymous said...

Best write up ever!!!!! Pls educate those ignorant humans!!!

Anonymous said...

Stupid post. Is that what is responsible for forgetting pad in a woman. If you don't work in such conditions isn't it better. U guys are dealing with people's lives. no excuse is excused.

Anonymous said...

Ironically, some will still not get your point, cos they obviously expect a perfectionist in an inadequate world. Need I say Nigerian doctors are not any less than foreign trained doctors ( as I am one). Just that the Nigerian government has refused to do the needful.

Unknown said...

Am not a doctor but I totally agree with him to an extent. Mr. Doctor, your job is like a call to save lives and most doctors we have today(bad ones) are there because they wanted to impress their parents. They never wanted to be a doctor but their parents forced them. Government and parents should be blamed.

001 said...

OMG......
Dear colleague I present cephalic!
This was well written.

lucybings amebo said...

Well said

Rita said...

Dear writer, this is the first time i'd actually read a post ill the very end. I totally understand ur plight, the 'Nigerian factor' is actually a very serious case that affects all sectors in the country. The problem with majority of Nigerians is the fact that they do not have the slightest idea how serious our problems are as a nation, rather they attack who ever they come face to face with. I was in a similar situation some weeks ago, where I was supposed to repeat a tooth xray(after waiting for over 2 hrs too get it done in the 1st place) and all of a sudden the power went off! I lost it, I screamed at d dentists and all...but later called myself to order because I realised it wasn't their fault after all. I would implore my fellow Nigerians to think deep and vote wisely because the root of our problems are corrupt leaders and not d civil servants who have no say in the whole matter.

Lewis said...

It's non challancy

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for this piece. U 've said all in a very mild way but be sure that a whole lot of people will still 've contrary opinions.
I remember I once commented here about a year ago durning a doctors strike about some doctors being on call every day for months, and someone asked how possible, he dey repeat?
In lasuth (surgery dept)u find a registrar and maybe a senior registrar in a unit, what does that mean, both of them are on call everyday till the posting ends in 3months only to continue the cycle again in another unit. Where is that done?work non stop, some doctors 've become strangers to their kids because they are at work saving lives.
I don't know why the public hate doctors so much, this hatred shd b directed towards our Govt.
Currently the ICU in lasuth isn't working cos a private one is being constructed, no one is asking questions but when a patient who shd b managed in an intensive care unit dies on the ward, relatives curse, abuse,attack&blame the Doctors.

ary said...

Okay

Omo said...

Brilliant summation doc but a waste of mental energy. The idiots who need to read it won't bother reading it. They will go about propagating their billous sentiments about Nigerian doctors. Well I don't really give a damn. I have realized d public don't care about my wellbeing so I will do my job 8 to 4 at the dot and go home. No more extra hours without pay; no contributing for for patients bills when they can't afford it; no donating of my blood for any patient. You get my services only; no emotional attachments. No waking up at night wondering how that bad patient survived the night. You will see me 8 to 4 which you pay off. #pissed offphysician

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for this piece. U 've said all in a very mild way but be sure that a whole lot of people will still 've contrary opinions.
I remember I once commented here about a year ago durning a doctors strike about some doctors being on call every day for months, and someone asked how possible, he dey repeat?
In lasuth (surgery dept)u find a registrar and maybe a senior registrar in a unit, what does that mean, both of them are on call everyday till the posting ends in 3months only to continue the cycle again in another unit. Where is that done?work non stop, some doctors 've become strangers to their kids because they are at work saving lives.
I don't know why the public hate doctors so much, this hatred shd b directed towards our Govt.
Currently the ICU in lasuth isn't working cos a private one is being constructed, no one is asking questions but when a patient who shd b managed in an intensive care unit dies on the ward, relatives curse, abuse,attack&blame the Doctors.

Anonymous said...

Bravo...Well said

Anonymous said...

@ My dear Doc,
I feel U die! Well said, the so called developed world have massive scale of laxity mostly covered up! I live in the UK and I know exactly what I'm saying...
Kudos to U guys o jare making something out of almost nothing that U are forced to work with!
But for the sake of your health, Ur family and well respected profession please do not and I'm repeating this "Do Not accept those killer shifts again ooo!" if U drop dead, U will just be another victim of a bad statistics as a result of some political canals and disgruntled elements in Nigeria!!!
That's my 2 cents to you. Keep up Ur good works...
Lindodo, enjoy Ur weekend...

Walata said...

Intelligent doc you get sense u just spoke well

Unknown said...

Word Doctor. WORD!!!
Can't help but agree with what good Doctor said.

Unknown said...

well said bro! don't worry CHANGE IS HERE SAI BUHARI!! no to corruption!!

Anonymous said...

Well said my fellow doctor.....

Michael Techme Monwuba said...

Even though i have my resentments against these our Nigerian doctors / hospitals, i cant help but totally agree with this writer. Our system is absolutely flawed. I dare say that any time i have to visit the hospital, which to the glory of God i rarely do, i think about the same things the writer has written about. Are all these doctors not products of our failed university system?

Relating it to my field of work, i once had to interview a 2:1 graduate of computer science from one of our prestigious universities for an IT position. To say that i was shocked beyond monumental proportion is quite an understatement. It was quite obvious that the young man had never had the opportunity of using a computer ever. How then did he write programs etc in school. Oh, i'm sorry, he never had to write any program, he only did them on paper.

Its a terrible situation we find ourselves in, a situation in which professionals cannot be trusted enough to be professional.

May God help us all.

Unknown said...

That's just it

Unknown said...

Biko, will all these solicited and unsolicited epistles remove the now controversial pad from the interior of the said lady? Rather than throw brickbats, measures should be put in place to forestall future recurrences.

Tendency oby said...

Nice write up

Anonymous said...

God bless you ooo.pls enlighten them.

Unknown said...

Well said.

Unknown said...

i couldnt be bothered to read this long bullshit but from the first paragraph i can see this doctor is saying trash. of course doctors would be held accountable when they make mistakes, this is because lives of their patients are at stake, there is no substitute for a lost life, life cannot be bought..so if a doctor is negligent he should be held accountable simple

Dr Obi-X said...

Tell them!!!!

Dr Obi-X said...

Tell them!!!! Again!!!

Anonymous said...

God bless this writer. We enjoy treating issues in isolation rather than taking a broader look. We just don't seem to connect the dots as a people. You litter the drain with waste then turn round to complain about flooding not realising that you also were part of the problem! Nigeria will only work when the majority choose to do the right thing...like he said, you can't have all other sectors in shabby form and expect a shiny health sector...society is a continuum, if you drop the ball, it affects the whole.

Dr Mee said...

Totally on point. I trained abroad, came back to practice in my dear country.. and guess what? I quit! Coz I aint no machine. The same enjoyment you like, me sef like am. I want to see my husband and raise my kids. Shikena.

Pepe said...

Y u dey vex? The ratio of bad to good doctors with all those bad xteristics u mentioned that I hav encountered is 8:2. So ur post has not changed my opinion. Just be a good doc urself. It starts with u.

ASAMPOKOTO said...

STANDING OVATION! This should be published this should be pushed. Why don't we have lobbyist. Seriously seriously they need to be forced to send their kids to Naij universities and seek health care in Naij. It's only fair to the people. If it's not good enough for you and your kids, then why is it good enough for the rest of us????? You are accountable to us as a people. Shiiiiii!

Anonymous said...

Nice and clear write up and equally on point. I. Wanted to be a doctor but after seeing our neighbour's wife nagging always with the husband over unavailability at home and negligence over holidays and so on I decided to quit my childhood profession

Unknown said...

Sorry doctor we won't complain again.

Anonymous said...

Point taken...but he was funny in some places.I laughed hard.

Anonymous said...

Point taken...but he was funny in some places.I laughed hard.

Anonymous said...

Point taken...but he was funny in some places.I laughed hard.

Anonymous said...

This is the best article i'v read in a long while. I just hope those directly concerned get to read this and make appropriate amends...

Anonymous said...

Well said. *****cageyberry *****

Anonymous said...

U are a good doctor...God will reward you.Amen.

Anonymous said...

TRUE TALK..I MUST COMMEND DIS DR...KAI...WE HAV SUFFERED...
DAT WARRI DUDE..DR UFUOMA

Anonymous said...

Just read your write up and tell em you're neither condescending or arrogant.
Now you have succeeded in explaining the general hostility to Doctors. Y'all are stuck up arrogant motherfucker who were just privileged. Unfortunately, like you opined, most of you know next to nothing, and that's why you get the harsh reality check from people.
Yes, we know you all have to be retrained to practice outside Nigeria.
Correct my errors and forward same. I did not study medicine. Lol.

Chyke said...

U guys killed my son by advising that he shouldn't be fed. You pple in faithcity hospital VI. I paid millions and you failed my family! Doctor my foot!

Unknown said...

Ma aunt unless lost her life bcuz of ds same tin.m hers was worst dt d pad was already decaying. Nigerian doctors still hv a lot to learn frm der foreign counterpart.

Anonymous said...

Exactly!!
Preach it chief! Preach it! Most people think we doctors are machines...expecting us to be perfect, forgetting that we are humans too. The most disappointing part is the failed health system and the way doctors are made to overwork like machines, with the peanuts we receive as pay..even machines need rest. I recall once, during my house job, when I was on call for two weeks straight. Then, NMA was on strike and the residents and consultants weren't around...the entire workload was shifted on the poor house officers. I can't even start recounting the ugly experiences I've had with patients who expect me to be perfect forgetting to apportion part of the blame to our failed government. It's frustrating really, right now, I'm considering relocating to the UK.

Anonymous said...

I like this Dr's write up. Spot on! A lot of our nigerian trained Drs who can't work like that and can afford to leave the country have. I particularly know of a set in UI that some few years ago had a 150 of the Drs all practising in America.

The government have got to do something. There is complete brain drain in our country.

Ijeluvlybabe said...

True talk but what ever is worth doing is worth doing well shikena

ibadiaran said...

Insightful. Thank you. Drs are often misunderstood, and a lot of patients are too impatient for their own good.

Anonymous said...

Guy TOLD them!today I didn't work much buh I saw over 20 people,operated 2 CS,jst got him to hear dat my son is down,plus am 5month pregnant.e no easy but no b to forget pad na

anonymous said...

Listen my friend, you are a very arrogant man !
Zip your trash because your shading is the exact issue been talked about .
When you sign up or take that oath to protect and safe guide LIFE,you do that shit with everything in you or move to the butcher section .
YES ! I said it, is either you're a doctor or not, don't try to justify your shit my friend .
We are talking of human life where mistakes means end of road ,
I'm a nurse and work with you doctors and bloody yes ,so of you are full of shit ,very very arrogant ,proud and foolish !
Hell yeah, I said so ,FOOLISH !!!!!!!!!
The same me,the same means what ?
Of all the big head fools that feels on top of the world because they write DOCTOR before their name,you are the most foolish and arrogant one so far .
I remembered a particle case where this mad doctor kept shouting on everything that walks till a staff made a mistake and hid it which nearly took the life of that boy (Anambra) .
You what ? I'll be back !

Unknown said...

linda enough of these ur write ups with responses really its becoming boring...

Abbie said...

Oh well, he has said it all!

¤Abbie says so¤

Anonymous said...

Wow!
What a piece!!!
Touching.....
Nigeria system as a whole needs formating..

LuchiDataLady said...

I totally agree with him, Nigerian doctors should stop being reckless and incompetent

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

Epistle of d week

Unknown said...

Well said. God help Nigeria!!!

ibadiaran said...

Thanks for this very insightful piece. Many people don't want to face the reality, and would rather jump to trade blames

Unknown said...

Excuse me mr doctor...u av no excuse ...u shud kno wat u signed up for wen u decided to become a doctor for crying out loud.a medical doctor shudnt compare himself with a mass com student or art student...u deal directly with life so get that straight up into your thick skull!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much doctor.I am not a graduate but permit me to speak the little English I know. This mean that Goodluck Jonathan Ebele's administration and all other people who have ruled this country need to be punished including Buhari himself. As far as I am consine God have not sent us a leader. My brothers I weep for our there country.

ebonydoc said...

Exactly!!!!!! Very true!!!!! Thanks for speaking up on behalf of many of us. Remain blessed, and stay positive.

ibadiaran said...

Insightful piece.
Many Drs are leaving the country in droves yet no one seems to realise alienating them, further pushes them out. Developed countries are taking away our Drs, yet we don't realise in a couple of years, there will be a serious dearth of the good ones.

D Jones said...

I can relate to what he/she is saying. I had a similar experience while working in a teaching hospital in southwest Nigeria. I was an intern (house officer) in the orthopedics department and was on call for one good month. I had to relocate from Nigeria to the USA in 2013 for some of the reasons he/she mentioned above. The work environment is terrible and inhuman, in addition to the job being unrewarding. A country that can negotiate with terrorists and militants but can not do the same with professionals like physicians. I disagree with some of the point raised though, while it is true that a doctor is a reflection of the society as a whole, but we should thrive to maintain the ethics and professionalism that makes the job honorable. We can not afford to depreciate the nobility of the medical profession like other aspects of the Nigerian society. I understand how difficult and frustrating it is but anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. May God bless our doctors and health workers, and may God bless Nigeria.

Petite Diva said...

He has made a valid point. But a lot of doctors don't try at all.

journal of a petite diva

Unknown said...

Are u sure u read the article? Hian!

Juleslouis said...

This country is just fucked up. Every politician in position to make a change just cares about his or her own pocket. Shey na for ds earth everything go end!

Unknown said...

Our there country? I hope ure kidding. .y'all should stop this.. it's sickening.

Unknown said...

Our there country? I hope ure kidding. .y'all should stop this.. it's sickening.

faspel said...

I totally agree.
Most hospitals in nigeria are understaffed, leaving a huge chunk of workload for few doctors.
Doctors are really handicapped and are made to improvise most of the time. Like for instance, when Ebola hit Nigeria there still wasn't any functional wash hand sink or even running water in most government/general hospitals in the country

Anonymous said...

This guy sed my mind jare. Thumbs up

Anonymous said...

U'r so bitter and filled with hate you cant think straight Anon 10.36...
It's obvious you wanted to read medicine and gave up after countless failed attempts to secure admission or you even failed out of med school...
But not to worry. .therez home for your children to be what you couldnt.. Thatz if you dont stifle them with your hate.

I mean i wouldn't even waste my energy to type how monstrous you nurses behave.

beauty said...

Hmmmmm, I really do understand him, dats a nice explanation and I agree with u wella.....

Anonymous said...

Shut up fool,you're just an envious moron. Why don't y go get MBBS if you really want to be like us. All these Nurses,stop hating. Nobody is stopping u from becoming a Doctor. Enough of this rubbish from you guys(nurses)

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 10:36pm, it's disheartening to read what you just spewed with so much venom. Coming from a fellow health worker, makes it more heartbreaking. If the general public so criticises health workers, is it not in our place to put up a united front? I'm a doctor (and a female at that) and I find it very offensive that you'd talk about doctors in such a degrading manner. The problem with some, in fact, most of you nurses is that, you fail to realize or accept the fact that the doctor is your superior, the doctor is your team leader (every team has a leader and to function effectively, the members of the team, leader inclusive, have to work together to achieve a common goal). I still do not understand what your (nurses') grievances are with doctors, but whatever it is, pulling down a fellow health worker with so much hate, in this manner, is totally unacceptable.

Anonymous said...

Honestly Bonario, I always thought you made sensible comments and felt people were wrong to insult you but this is the most foolish thing to say about it all!you call what is said unnecessary story? I'm a doctor and from the description this doctor made of being on the 5th floor, we work in the same institution. You don't have an inkling what we go through. Just pray you don't fall ill and need to be admitted in a teaching hospital where all the doctors have been worked to their bones.
He just took the words out of my mouth. Imagine performing a surgical procedure in a very hot, dark room, sweating, using the torch on your phone to see clearly.
The general public needs to know that doctors are humans and our government needs to make drastic changes. We deal with human lives not machines and we have to be extremely careful. With a machine you can cut and hit anywhere with no fear, with a human you have to be on top of your game. How does one perform adequately under such hostile conditions?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 10:36pm, it's disheartening to read what you just spewed with so much venom. Coming from a fellow health worker, makes it more heartbreaking. If the general public so criticises health workers, is it not in our place to put up a united front? I'm a doctor (and a female at that) and I find it very offensive that you'd talk about doctors in such a degrading manner. The problem with some, in fact, most of you nurses is that, you fail to realize or accept the fact that the doctor is your superior, the doctor is your team leader (every team has a leader and to function effectively, the members of the team, leader inclusive, have to work together to achieve a common goal). I still do not understand what your (nurses') grievances are with doctors, but whatever it is, pulling down a fellow health worker with so much hate, in this manner, is totally unacceptable.

Anonymous said...

U abandoned it becos ur a genetic ode !!

Davido's driver said...

Doctor pls dont mind this bokonairo of a boy.lindaobserve

Anonymous said...

Don't judge people. You never know what kind of battle they are fighting

Anonymous said...

Linda plss push this write-up...
Everyone should read it

Anonymous said...

And what do you do exactly? Squat above your pit toilet typing rubbish? All these small boys and girls on LIB who don't read books anymore, only watch movies and have sex then come to read intelligent write ups but cannot comprehend what they have read only to hurl insults. We need an overhaul of foolish youths

Anonymous said...

Ur idiocy comes in leaps...nxt tym read d write up

Unknown said...

Sorry Dude. Felt sad reading ur comment knowing how pained u are. The Lord is your Strength, just keep faith alive.

Unknown said...

I dey laugh.

Unknown said...

God bless you Dr.for the enlightenment

Combwalker said...

The doctor was speaking about not having multiple body parts on that occasion when he was needed in 2 different locations simultaneously, which was in the past, and his reason for using the past tense. But we are detracting from his valid points which are the daily frustrations of Nigerian doctors. These same doctors, once removed from their present resource constraint- in the form of the perennial brain drain- become excellent leaders in other countries' systems.
Please help pass his core message to people who can do something about it.
Thanks. (Thanks also for bothering to read through it all)

Anonymous said...

Don't be so gullible pls. These docs ern more a lot more than other health professionals like pharmacists n lab scientists...they r pid well(relatively) 4 their job so they shd get to it..nice article though

Combwalker said...

Please take the time to read :-)

Anonymous said...

Oh really madam nurse? I'm a dr and I was on a ward where the patients should be monitored by nurses. I walked in and noticed that a patient's chest wasn't moving. Your colleagues were busy chit-chatting and didn't notice a patient on their ward had passed on. When my colleague check the vitals and it was confirmed the man was dead, I called your silly colleagues and they dragged their feet. Took hours before they even screened the area to get the tubes out. You are a nurse? Shame on you and your colleagues because you are a horrible set. You are meant to dress wounds but no sane doctor can leave a wound that requires extra care to you because you are incompetent. That wound would Rot away and that is why we have to do most things ourselves to make sure they come out fine. I have another question for you my dear, FOOLISH, FULL-OF-HATE friend, if you hate doctors so much, why oh why do you spread your legs for them at every opportunity? Why do you flirt with the medical students? P.S. Learn to edit before you post, your English is terrible. Or give that arrogant dr to help you edit.

Anonymous said...

Who forced you to read them.?

frank millz said...

Awesome write up!!God bless u my dear compatriot,we Dr's in 9ja amid the very depressing wages,as juxtaposed with mates in d diasopa,the unavailabily of basic life saving machines,understaffed and overworked health workers we are so easily vilified.Drs practicing in 9ja I mea those in d grind deserve commendation cos we they try!!#Real beings do real things#

Anonymous said...

Juliana is a daft girl, iya, Iya, yo!!! Who went into school knowing what they signed up for in this country? Haven't you seen someone who studied computer engineering working in the bank? Or a graduate being an okada rider? Is that what they signed up for? So my darling, doctors never signed up for this, they thought things would work but alas, this is the situation on ground.

Anonymous said...

You came on Linda's blog to display your stupidity .How can you understand what the good doctor just said when your head is clouded by sex .Olodo!

Anonymous said...

Because you're dumb

Anonymous said...

Sharraaap there

Anonymous said...

Linda do us all a favor and stop posting this dudes comment !

Anonymous said...

I used to respect Bonario a lot and rush to attack anybody who speaks ill of him but since the beginning of this year, I began to see a very nasty person making unreasonable comments here and there. This all shows that nobody can hide their true self after a period of time. We are gradually getting to know the real Bonario.

Anonymous said...

Dts why all of you have become so dumb with your brains between your legs. When you can't read, how will u know what goes on around you?

Unknown said...

Eyaa sorry !
My ucl. Died recently but if u c d ward he was in errh. .hmmm God knows.
Darkness, big fat mosquitoes, HEAT! Dirty environment n wot av u!
Den d doctor TLD us not 2leave his sight cos d hospital wasn't SAFE
Just can imagine!
I kip hearing pple say dat if u wnt 2rily kno hw God as blessed u, visit d hospital!


Anonymous said...

You are a monkey. Stupid Bonario!

Oluwabukola A A O said...

Thank you doctor, God bless you. Am a female doctor and it has not been easy. I once worked in a private hospital where I did back to back calls for months. One thing is DT yl we av people coming out with first class in Nigerian universities some graduate with a pass. Drs too get levels and we know. Aside DT we av different threshold for stress. May God help us all to deliver the best we can. As for hater's "Pls go n take jamb form o coz miracle can happen. Kudos my colleagues. *hugs* #linda'spal#

Angry Mrs. Doc said...

Linda, my hubby is a doctor and I can totally relate with doctors' frustrations. In fact, as I type this, he's not in the house. He came back from work at around 9.pm, showered, had dinner, and we were just about relaxing and gisting about the day's work when his phone rang. It was a call from the hospital that his attention is needed immediately for an emergency surgery (CS). He had to rush back to the hospital..you can only imagine how frustrating it is for me as the wife, just when i needed to relax with my baby after a hard day's work and have him cuddle me and stuffs, make sweet love to me *sigh*...and i can't stop him from going because he's bound by the Hippocratic Oath he swore. And up till now, he's not yet back.. So I have to keep rolling from one end of the bed to the other.. I came to your blog to find solace, and it's repulsive to say the least, what people say about doctors. Do you guys fucking know the kind of sacrifices doctors have to make in the line of duty? Do you? Reading some of the comments here irritates the life outta me.

THE ACT OF SEX said...

Your type of doctor na gwe gee. Very arrogant. Your type will forget surgical blades and cloths join

Anonymous said...

You see, arrogant!

linda said...

Honestly Bonario....dunno wt rough phase Ur passing thru buh jst take a deep breathe n count frm one to ten...Ur begining to act like a jerk

linda said...

Yea of course u entered medical school, passed ur 2nd mbbs nd suddenly decided doctors suck....wo r u fooling? Stop hating ok?

Anonymous said...

Well said doc...grt xposition...really hpe d politicians see ds...and a grt percentage of Nigerians understand ds

Anonymous said...

Because you can't read, always forming what you are not. Bitch

Anonymous said...

Bonario U r indeed very stupid for such a comment...didn't know you were daft too...idiot

Anonymous said...

When you are sick or dying or your family member and u need good health care, I hope u find it boring then

Anonymous said...

Ignorant bonario. U are completely a novice in dis area. So, shut d fuck up and move to d nxt post. Idiot

Anonymous said...

Idiot

Unknown said...

Whether you are stressed or not...try to be cautious abi?? Why don't you imagine yourself in his shoes,[being overworked 24hours a day,not having enough rest or sleep,dealing with lack of all the basic amenities and having to improvise]and let me know if you would even have a slight percent of the endurance and will most doctors have to muster...Let's be realistic!!!! Most people are just silly.. Smh

Unknown said...

Nothing irritates me more than people complaining about 'the long write up'... Like seriously?! What happened to our reading culture??? It's just a pity... Expand your knowledge, read!! And make an impact! Instead of being so comfortable in your own world of ignorance and foolishness...

Anonymous said...

@ Bonario Nags,
I will assume that you did not send in this stupid comment as someone trying to make a mockery of you did!
For the 1st time I beg to differ and will say it's a thoughtless comment!
U don't always have to contribute, U can decide to STFU & take a very long walk away!!!
@ Anon 11:43pm is so right to pray that U never have any cause to fall I'll and sent to any of the so called government run hospitals!
My brother was a patient there 15years ago for the 1st time in the history of my family and trust me it was absolutely nothing to write home about!!!!
I leave you in peace now because you need it to be more sensible and thoughtful in ur subsequent future comments...Au resources!!!

Krix said...

For once am disappointed in u bonario!

Krix via iPhone 6 gold

mandy said...

You see y no body likes you nurses? Your Co workers? Your patients? Your husbands? You are fat and lazy; ignorant and worse filled with hate. God help you. You have just spewed 10 minutes of hate on your keyboard. Not one single sentence about how to move forward your life; your patients or the health system. Smh

sexynerd said...

Bona you can keep quiet. No one listens to you

Unknown said...

Forget bonario abeg!

sexynerd said...

Work ethics demands you talk to customers calmly. But fools like you only listen when they are screamed at. So there it is

Anonymous said...

Go back and read your comment. Only you and your ancestors understand what you were trying to say

Unknown said...

Wow! Sorry about that horrible experience ma'am
May Nigeria become a better country to live and work in.
Have a safe delivery if you're still pregg.

enem said...

Just try and use what you have for now, I understand with you, but have in mind that sickness is not what anybody will wish for, treat your patients with love. My mum was awaiting a brain surgery in a Govt hospital b4 we lost her. Gosh d harsh treatment we got! Don't even wanna talk abt that

Unknown said...

Bonario na fool nah....brso you no no? Na Linda make the 'fucked up' guy popular... All Nigerian doctors are great! Thumbs up

Unknown said...

This doctor has just made some points I guess we've all forgotten we most lack. Undermining his write-up doctors still ve their own weak points. But Nigeria sef, how can one person be in charge of almost a days job and there re pple out there crying for a job. Don't knw wen this is gonna stop

Unknown said...

Really! Pls go to a government and see d issues first before saying d word 'caution'!

Jelly said...

Anonymous 10:36 pm,u'r an idiot.........my happiness is dat nurses can neva head d hospitals... u wl forever remain under dis Dr.u insulted both in salary and brains, if u want to be a Dr.why not apply to any university of ur choice,,, though i know becos u'r brainless u wl fail out after 2nd MBBS......u want to b a consultant,wit ur dust filled brain,,,keep dreaming! For Bonario I'm lackin d appropriate idiotic word to describe u!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your articulate piece. It's just so frustrating & at d same time annoying when people treat us as if we are super humans without understanding the issues you have to deal with on a daily basis. I myself have been attacked by a patient relative while working for about 14days straight in a neurosurgery unit reason I didn't respond on time & sit beside the patient during his last hours. If you how inept the system is then everyone would appreciate how much we try not minding those who tend to destroy it. Let's channel our frustrations to the appropriate & not blame the Lil dude or gal who is trying to save your life with nothing. Look around the world & see if our system is attainable, both in renumaration & equipments, anywhere in the world.

Anonymous said...

You are very silly to say that, don't open your mouth and spew utter nonsense. I should use my pubic hairs & work abi. Pls go and tell a civil engineer to build a road without basic facility. When we talk about redundant graduates you think your exempt.

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