Amarachi Okeh
The Lagos Branch of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has said that investigations are underway to ascertain the truth behind the video circulating the internet indicating that a nurse was responsible for videoing the now late patient, Patrick Fakoya popularly known as Rico Swavey, instead of attending to him.
In the short video clip circulating across social media, an unidentified person, presumed to be a nurse, recorded the patient who was placed on oxygen as other nurses struggled to lift him.
As the unidentified person recorded the video, another nurse was caught on camera cautioning them to stop recording the patient.
Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, the Lagos state chairman of the NANNM, Comrade Olurotimi Awojide, said that in the nursing profession, the privacy of the clients is very important.
He disclosed that investigations would ascertain the truth behind the video and if a nurse is found to be the culprit, adequate disciplinary measures will be taken.
He said, “from the voice in the background, one could hear the nurses telling someone behind the camera that they should come and assist her, why are they videoing, are they supposed to be videoing?
“So, from there you’d see that, well, it’s an assumption, that probably the person even doing the video is not a nurse. But the nurse was already telling them, please, come and assist me, it is not a video you are supposed to be doing.
“We are still investigating and it is a private hospital so we have to get appropriate information about the incident. For now, it is too early for me to make comments on that video.”
Awojide also stated that as investigations would be carried out to find out if the person behind the video is a nurse, it must be noted that not everyone who dons a white uniform is a nurse.
This is “because a nurse must have undergone training, be registered with the relevant councils in Nigeria, licensed to practice. Some of these people wear the uniform while they are not nurses.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, a public health expert, Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor, said it is unethical for a patient to be recorded as it is a breach of their privacy.
He further called on the nursing association to take necessary actions if the culprit is a nurse.
He said, “I’ve not watched the video. I don’t want to watch it because it is unethical. If the person who recorded the video is found to be a nurse, he or she must be punished by the hospital and by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
“Recording videos of people, especially patients without their consent is unethical and illegal.
“After the punishments by the hospital and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the nurses must undergo mandatory training on patient-centred care.”
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