Drama As Commissioner Barred From Taking Picture With Patient At LAUTECH

By Solomon Odeniyi

• Why we barred her – Management

There was a mild drama between staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo and the Commissioner of Women, Children and Social Affairs , Mrs Olubukola Olaboopo when she attempted to take pictures of one of the patients in the hospital.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Olaboopo had gone to the hospital to check on Mrs Kafayat Adetunji, the woman who attempted suicide by jumping into Osun river last in Osogbo last week.

Olaboopo reportedly attempted to take picture with Adetuni but was stopped by some medical workers on duty at the hospital.

The commissioner was reportedly irked by the resistance of workers, a development that later degenerated into a free for all.

Olaboopo’s Personal Assistant phone was damaged in the process and there was tension in the hospital.

The commissioner alleged that the medical workers were unruly to her.

But LAUTECHTH management in a statement signed by it’s spokesperson, Ayodele Adeyemo and made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, refuted the claims that workers behaved unruly to the commissioner.

Adeyemo said after the allegation was made, the management of the hospital instituted a panel headed by a Senior Consultant with membership comprising health professionals in the hospital to investigate the matter.

He disclosed that from findings, the commissioner had run afoul of the medical ethics, stating that the hospital would always abide by the medical ethics for Its patients.

Adeyemo said: “The attention of Management of LAUTECH teaching hospital Osogbo has been drawn to a trending message on social media purportedly on allegation of uncooperative disposition by some staff of the hospital during the visit of Hon Olaboopo Olubukola, Commissioner for Women Affairs, State of Osun to a patient under critical emergency condition who attempted suicide by jumping into Osun river.

On the reportage of the incident, there were some misrepresentations making this rejoinder necessary.

“The facts of the case are as follows: “When the matter was brought to the attention of Management, a panel headed by a Senior Consultant with membership comprising of other health professionals in the hospital was constituted.

“The Panel considered both oral and written evidence on medical management of the patient in addition to eye witness corroboration by patient’s relations

“The Panel confirmed that in truth the aide of the Commissioner took the photographs of the patient while the patient was been attended to against medical ethics guiding the confidentiality of a patient even when the medical team cautioned against such an act. This directive not to take photographs of the patient did not go well with the Commissioner.

“It needs be stressed that the medical team followed all known ethical principles in the management of the patient by refusing taking picture of the traumatized patient at that particular time. The confidentiality of a patient is sacrosanct.

“There was no evidence that the aide’s camera was neither seized nor damaged.

Members of the public are advised to follow medical ethics always and cooperate with health care givers for efficient management of their patients.

“Management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo is committed to ethical conduct that is comparable to international standard. It is reinstated that the facilities in the hospital will always be deployed to enhance the quality health care program of the government of State of Osun”

Reacting, Olaboopo stated that the scuffle was initially between her aide and the doctors but was later pounced on her while trying to settle the matter.

The commissioner said that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was already aware of the situation and was on top of it.

She said: “It was while I was trying to calm the doctors down that they turned to me and started embarrassing me. I won’t like to comment much on the matter.

The governor is aware of it and is on top of it.

“The government believes it is a slap on it. The commissioner for Health and Special Adviser on Public Health are not aware of the matter and the normal protocol is that the commissioner should know before such things is being issued (statement) because they are under the government. “