I have never been to court, that is, never sat through a court session in Nigeria. I wouldn't know what people get sued for except for land dispute. Abroad, people make some dough or money after a medical procedure gone awry gets to court and damages are awarded to the plaintiff. Does this ever happen in Nigeria, in Africa? Do we accept everything as God's will? Sadly, you can't always tell if a death (if such results in death, it doesn't always have to) occurs as a result of carelessness on the part of medical personnel. Wrong medicine, wrong dosage, badly done procedures (surgery/operation), wrong prescription are all examples of medical malpractice.
Unfortunately, it takes many years and a lot of monies and effort to study medicine. It's not Igbo (yeah, right) where if you can't tell what carried water and climbed a tree, your grandmother would surely remind you. Note before: don't take my Igbo for granted, it's human know-how. The knowledge base is phenomenal and the common sense it bestows on one is out of this world. And that thing that climbed a tree while carrying water in it's head is a coconut. Clap for me. Book an 'Igbo know how' class with me later. Back to medicine with medical malpractice.
When shall we take commerce out of everything we do in this world? If a medical doctor wants to become the richest man in Nigeria, Africa or the world let him join Dangote, Gates and Buffet in business and leave us poor people alone. I don't want to be a guinea pig to some amateur doctor wannabe. There are rats in the bush near my house. A little change and boys will become boys, rat chasers and hunters with a mandate to catch them alive. The other day, I looked out my window and wondered how to catch a squirrel and make him a prisoner in a cage. I could lend him to them until the grass cutter deal matures...lol. The grass cutter fellow says to wait for a while so I was going to try squirrel in the wild but guinea pig is best for these kind of things.
People seek medical help from trusted hands and referrals. It's important that we learned that every experience is unique. However, do your research and ensure that nobody is playing a funny game with you. Oh! I don't trust churches these days. They are looking ever commercialised, and serving ambitious purposes nowadays. And cell phone conversations - people don't always reveal their identity and affiliations and you see isn't always what is. Do your friends or even family need your dead? Why? Conspiracies are now familial, communal and global. Uwa di egwu!
It takes a lot of money to go to court. The long waits for justice feed societal ills such as medical malpractice and other injustices. But don't rule out the option of going to court if there's evidence or suspicion of foul play and/or arrogance in how a loved one was treated in a hospital or clinic.
I have had to reject taking medication before (not always a wise decision as your disease mightn't go away) but the decision gave me peace and a say for myself. Ensure you are making a comfortable decision for you will surely have to live with the consequences.
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