The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) have issued a strong reminder to hospitals nationwide to treat gunshot victims immediately—without demanding police reports or advance documentation.
The call came during separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, following persistent reports of hospitals denying or delaying care to gunshot victims despite existing laws mandating immediate treatment.
According to the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act, enacted in 2017, all hospitals—public and private—must provide emergency medical care to gunshot victims before any police documentation. Section Seven of the Act stipulates that failure to comply, leading to a victim’s death, attracts a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a ₦500,000 fine, or both.
The Nigerian Police Force had earlier reaffirmed this position in an October 25, 2023 circular, directing all officers to ensure full compliance and warning against any interference that could obstruct urgent medical treatment.
Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, the National President of NARD, described the continued refusal to treat gunshot victims as “unacceptable” and contrary to both legal and ethical medical standards.
“Where I practice in Katsina, we treat first—the police handle the rest. Our duty as doctors is to save lives, not to judge,” he said, adding that ignorance of the law was no excuse for negligence.
Suleiman stressed that NARD continues to educate its members through Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs to ensure awareness of laws governing medical practice. He urged the public to report hospitals that fail to treat emergency victims for appropriate disciplinary action.
“Rejecting a gunshot patient is both criminal and unethical,” Suleiman emphasized. “Any doctor who denies care in a life-threatening situation should face the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) disciplinary tribunal, which has powers equivalent to a Federal High Court.”
Similarly, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Mr. Ndagi Alhassan, reminded nurses of their duty to prioritize human life above institutional bureaucracy.
“In some hospitals, policy demands documentation before care, but nurses must remember that life comes first. With federal directives in place, the proper sequence is to stabilise the patient before handling paperwork,” he said.
Alhassan reaffirmed that the council would not tolerate negligence or excuses rooted in administrative policy, urging nurses to uphold their ethical and professional obligations.
“This is both a moral and legal duty. Every nurse must act immediately to save lives in emergencies, especially gunshot cases,” he concluded.
Both NARD and NMCN reiterated their joint commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s emergency response system and ensuring that no life is lost due to avoidable delays in medical care.
