By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
A surgeon (name withheld) at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for harvesting the kidney of a patient, Mr Joshua Afolayan.
Mr Afolayan is a teacher with the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission.
He was said to have gone to the hospital to remove a damaged kidney due to an accident but the surgeon removed both without his consent leaving him in a desperate situation.
The doctor was dismissed for illegally harvesting the kidney of Mr Afolayan who had visited the hospital for treatment.
The state Commissioner for health,Oyebanji Filani, announced the dismissal of the doctor in a statement.
The Commissioner did not reveal the identity of the patient.
He, however, said all members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended for one month, pending further administrative review.
The dismissal and suspension of the doctor and members of his team followed the outcome of an investigative panel which found him guilty of harvesting the patient’s kidney.
The seven-member panel,headed by Prof. Francis Faduyile, was constituted about two weeks ago after a claim by Afolayan, who underwent a surgical procedure at the state teaching hospital.
The Commissioner for health, Oyebanji Filani, said Ekiti State government will cover kidney transplant expenses for Joshua Afolayan.
In the statement, Filani said : “The surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from EKSUTH with immediate effect.
“All members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended for one month, pending further administrative review.
“The Ekiti State Government will bear full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr Joshua Afolayan and also take responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant related medical maintenance for two years.
“In line with the recommendations of the Panel, a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH will be undertaken to strengthen clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety.”
