BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA – Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, Dr Roger Makanjuola, has said the council was set to institute penalties and appropriate measures against members who embark on   industrial action in future.

Dr Makanjuola, weekend, frowned at what he described as tragic series of strike, saying strikes were against the ethical principles of the profession.

According to him, “the Hippocratic Oath to which we all swear on entry into the profession includes two statements; the health of my patient shall be my first consideration and I will maintain the utmost respect for human life.

“Doctors who engage in any strike  will, henceforth, be investigated and penalized if found to be guilty of neglecting their patients while battling with government.

“While the code of ethics of our profession allows practitioners to down tools under extreme circumstances that will be quite rare, when such industrial actions occur the care of our patients is protected.”