By Chioma Obinna

Medical doctors in Lagos, under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP, and the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Lagos State branches, have demanded an immediate halt to what they described as “incessant and illegal harassment” of their members by the police and other government agencies.

At a joint press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, leaders of both bodies decried what they called a disturbing pattern of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and extortion of doctors, often triggered by complaints from patients’ relatives over deaths or alleged negligence.

Speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of ANPMP Lagos, Dr. Esegie Jonathan, said the trend had become “unrelenting,” warning that it now poses a serious threat not only to medical practitioners but also to public safety.

“A doctor who is constantly harassed, intimidated, detained at will and extorted would be robbed of the bravery which most medical emergencies require. If this continues, the result will be more preventable deaths.”

Jonathan cited several cases to illustrate the growing concern. In one instance, a doctor and nurses were reportedly detained and forced to pay over N500,000 after a patient, who had earlier been discharged against medical advice, was brought back dead.

In another case, a young doctor was accused of manslaughter and detained, allegedly paying N1.5 million to secure his release after a child he treated later died.

He also referenced incidents involving doctors arrested after performing emergency procedures, a physician detained over post-surgical complications, and a medical officer held through the Easter holiday following the deaths of two critically ill children, despite efforts to save them. The hospital, he said, spent over N2.3 million to secure the doctor’s freedom.

“These are not isolated incidents,” Jonathan stressed. Hospitals are sometimes shut for days during these ordeals, denying other patients access to care.”

Corroborating the claims, NMA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, described the situation as “alarming and unacceptable,” noting that the harassment now goes beyond law enforcement to include public assaults, social media trials and institutional pressure.

While expressing sympathy for bereaved families, Saheed insisted that accountability in medical practice must follow established legal and professional procedures.
“Doctors must be held accountable through due process, not through harassment or trial by public opinion,” he said.

Both associations called for complaints bordering on medical negligence or misconduct to be channelled through appropriate regulatory bodies, particularly the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, which is statutorily empowered to investigate and discipline practitioners.

They warned that bypassing these mechanisms in favour of police intervention undermines professional regulation and encourages abuse.

The groups also urged government agencies to respect the boundaries of medical practice and work collaboratively with healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes.

According to them, doctors operate under intense pressure, often with limited resources, yet remain committed to saving lives.

Among their demands are the immediate cessation of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of medical personnel, as well as the establishment of structured engagement between the medical community and law enforcement to manage disputes.

They further warned that the trend is already pushing doctors toward “defensive medicine,” where fear of legal consequences may lead to hesitation in handling critical cases.

“An environment that intimidates medical practitioners ultimately endangers lives,” Saheed said. “Our healthcare system can only thrive where doctors are protected and respected.”

The associations said ending the harassment would boost morale among practitioners, encourage decisive emergency care and improve healthcare delivery across the state.

They, however, expressed readiness to engage with the police and other stakeholders, insisting that mutual respect and adherence to due process must guide any meaningful collaboration.