The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has suspended a medical doctor, Michael Owoicho-Odeh, for six months for malpractice and enticing his patient, a housewife, Ifeoma Orji.
The five-member Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal of MDCN slammed the sentenced on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State, after the doctor’s trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Owoicho-Odeh pleaded not guilty.
The tribunal, chaired by Prof Abba Waziri-Hassan, held that the doctor was found guilty on count one, when between April 15 and October 25, 2014, or thereabout at ELROI Mission Hospital, No 22, Alhaji Baba Street, Jos, engaged in malpractice and enticed Mrs Orji during his medical practice.
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Prof Waziri Hassan ruled that, “By the said fact, Owoicho-Odeh conducted himself infamously in a professional respect contrary to Rule 42.1 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition and punishable under Section 16 (1) (a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act CAP M8 LFN 2004 (as amended).
“On count two, he was found guilty when between April 15, 2014 and November 13, 2017, he conducted himself infamously in an unprofessional respect, when while in the full-time employment of the University of Jos, engaged in private practice by owning and running a private medical practice known as ElROI Mission Hospital.
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“This is contrary to Rule 49.2 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition, and punishable under Section 16 (1) (a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act CAP M8 LFN 2004 (as amended).
“Consequently, this tribunal hereby sentences the respondent doctor, Michael Owoicho-Odeh, to six months suspension on each of the two counts to run concurrently.”
NAN further reports that the tribunal’s verdict was a fallout of a case between the chairman, Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, and Owoicho-Odeh following a complaint lodged by Mrs Orji’s husband, Chief Maduabuchi, who alleged that Owoicho-Odeh abused his position as a doctor to his family by engaging in an indecent and financial relationship with his wife. NAN