Benue State University, Makurdi

The Role of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Regulation of Medical Practice and Curbing Negligence in the Health Sector

Okoh Christiana Oyoh*

Abstract

The restricted postures assumed when regulation of Medical Practitioners is called in question, as opposed to the broad sense in understanding the context of involvement of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in curbing medical negligence, requires a certain perspective that will lay the proper foundation for any discuss aimed at helping to curb the acts that constitute medical negligence itself and its possible ramifications. The aim of this article is to examine the role of the MDCN in the regulating medical practice and curbing negligence in the health sector. Our objective was to (a) examine the role of MDCN in checking negligence; (b) examine the implication of regulating medical practice; (c) identify acts amounting to negligence visa viz quackery; (d) identify enablers of quackery; (e)examine the challenges involved in curtailing health related negligence and (f) to make recommendations which will be useful in checking medical negligence. The work recommended that availability of trained specialists, pro bono services to help victims of negligence, awareness trainings on acts of negligence, imposition of maximum required punishment for specific offences, involvement of Medical Practitioners in reporting quackery and negligent practices is germane to addressing quackery and negligence.