The Ekiti State Government has dismissed a surgeon at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) following the outcome of an investigation into the alleged removal of a patient’s kidney during a surgical procedure.
The decision followed the submission of a report by a seven-member Panel of Enquiry set up by the state government to probe claims made by a patient, Joshua Afolayan, who underwent surgery at the teaching hospital.
The panel, reportedly chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile, was constituted about two weeks ago after Afolayan alleged that one of his kidneys was removed without proper justification during the operation.
Reacting to the findings of the panel, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Oyebanji Filani, announced in a statement on Friday that the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery had been dismissed with immediate effect.
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According to Filani, members of the surgical team present in the operating theatre on the day of the procedure have also been suspended for one month, pending further administrative review.
“The surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from EKSUTH with immediate effect. All members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended for one month, pending further administrative review,” the statement read.
The commissioner further disclosed that the Ekiti State Government would bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for the affected patient.
“The Ekiti State Government will bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr Joshua Afolayan and also take responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant-related medical maintenance for two years,” Filani stated.
He added that the government has approved a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH in line with the panel’s recommendations, aimed at strengthening clinical governance, accountability and patient safety.