By Deborah Nnamdi
The Ekiti State Government has dismissed a surgeon accused of removing a patient’s kidney without prior consent at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
The decision was announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Oyebanji Filani, and made available to journalists on Thursday.
According to the statement, the government also approved the suspension of all members of the surgical team present in the operating theatre on the day of the procedure for one month, pending further administrative review.
The action followed the submission of a detailed report by a seven-member panel of enquiry, chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile, which was constituted 11 days earlier to investigate a complaint by one Joshua Afolayan over a surgical operation he underwent at EKSUTH.
“Upon careful review of the report and its recommendations, the Ekiti State Government has approved the dismissal of the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery with immediate effect,” the statement said, adding that the temporary suspension of the surgical team was necessary to allow for further review.
The government also announced that it would bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Afolayan and assume responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant-related medical maintenance for a period of 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,” the statement added.
While reaffirming its support for dedicated health professionals at EKSUTH, the state government stressed that it would not hesitate to take decisive action where professional standards are breached.
It reiterated its commitment to protecting patients, upholding ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery, and restoring public confidence in the state’s health system, assuring residents that necessary reforms would be implemented to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
