Medical council suspends surgeon over misconduct

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) at the weekend found guilty and suspended Dr. Godwin Ugbam, a registered medical practitioner and pediatric Surgeon based in Enugu, for four months over misconduct which led to the death of a patient.

The council’s Tribunal also ordered that Dr. Ugbam’s clinic Abram Vineyard Clinic in Uwani, Enugu should no longer perform any major surgery. Dr Ugbam was arraigned on a three count charge of performing a major surgery of prostatectomy on one Mr. Alexander Chibueze Owoh now deceased and managed the patient postoperatively in his said clinic.

The second charge accused the suspect of admitting the patient and performing the major surgery of prostatectomy without referring the patient to a centre which is recognized and equipped to carry out such a major surgery.

The third charge accused the doctor of neglecting and failing to keep record of his management of the patient in his Clinic. The Tribunal in its ruling noted that the defendant doctor - Dr. Godwin Ugbam, was competent to carry out prostatectomy.

“That the surgery of prostatectomy was performed without obvious complication and the patient remained clinically stable, that, though, the clinic was 3-bedded in a flat with two trained nurses, part-time anaesthetist and locum doctor, the man power is insufficient for adequate postoperative management of a major surgery of prostatectomy,” it noted.