Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
A patient advocacy organisation has called on Nigerians to know and exercise their rights as patients, saying greater awareness could help prevent avoidable harm and improve healthcare experiences across the country.
The Advocacy Against Medical Negligence and Malpractice Initiative, known as AAMENAMI, made the call during a community outreach programme in Oke Aro, Pig Farm Estate, Lagos, organised to educate residents on patients' rights and how to recognise and respond to possible medical negligence. The programme, themed "Know Your Rights: How to Recognise and Prevent Medical Negligence," focused on helping participants become more active and informed about their healthcare and encouraging better communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Founder of AAMENAMI, Mrs Nkechi Azike Igogori, told participants that patients have the right to be treated with respect, dignity and courtesy, as well as the right to receive clear information about their medical condition and proposed treatment. She encouraged patients to ask questions whenever they do not understand their diagnosis, medication or treatment, stressing that being in a hospital does not mean patients should remain silent about concerns regarding their care. According to her, patients also have the right to access information about their medical records, complain when they are not treated properly, and receive adequate information before giving consent to certain procedures and treatments.
Igogori said AAMENAMI was concerned about preventable harm and practices that could unnecessarily put patients at risk, noting that the foundation was not established to work against medical professionals, but to promote better communication and cooperation between healthcare providers and patients. She cautioned, however, that not every negative outcome or death in a hospital should automatically be regarded as medical negligence, noting that some complications may occur despite the efforts of medical professionals.
The AAMENAMI founder also educated participants on warning signs that could indicate possible medical negligence, including repeated failure to respond to serious symptoms, deterioration in a patient's condition without appropriate attention, suspected medication errors, dismissal of important symptoms without reasonable assessment and inadequate monitoring of seriously ill patients. The initiative was established following the death of her 29-year-old son, Ejiro, on October 21, 2023, over alleged medical negligence. She explained that the painful experience prompted her to establish AAMENAMI as a platform to promote patient safety, medical literacy and better communication between patients and healthcare providers.
The outreach comes against the backdrop of growing national concern over the scale of medical negligence in Nigeria. According to data cited by health stakeholders, one in five patients in Nigeria experience harm during healthcare, while approximately 250,000 people die yearly due to medical errors. A study published in the African Research Journal of Medical Sciences found that Nigeria has a medical error prevalence rate ranging from 42.8 per cent to 89.8 per cent, with 33.3 per cent of patients experiencing additional injuries as a result of treatment. Medication errors currently account for over 95 per cent of reported negligence types, according to medical law researchers.
Nigeria's Patients' Bill of Rights, launched on July 31, 2018, by the Consumer Protection Council in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health, outlines the fundamental rights every patient should expect in any healthcare setting. The document was developed to protect consumers of health services and to ensure that increasing funding into healthcare translates into direct improvement in the quality of care at the last mile of service delivery. Under the National Health Act, patients have the right to refuse treatment, to access their health records, and to receive emergency medical treatment without refusal by any healthcare establishment.
The regulatory landscape has also shifted in recent months. In a landmark ruling on April 15, 2026, the Abuja Federal High Court affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate complaints by patients, including allegations of medical negligence. The judgment, in the case of Lifebridge Medical Diagnostic Centre Ltd v FCCPC, strengthened the case for greater accountability in medical practice. The Nigerian Medical Association has, however, faulted the ruling, arguing that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria remains the primary regulatory body through which Nigerians can seek justice for medical negligence. The NMA has urged the Federal Government to urgently constitute the membership of the MDCN to enable it tackle cases of medical negligence effectively.
Mrs Yemisi Zaria, one of the facilitators at the Lagos outreach, said medical negligence has become a source of grave concern and urged participants to take an active role in matters concerning their health and to share the knowledge gained with family members, friends and neighbours. One of the participants, Mrs Adetutu Olugbenga, commended AAMENAMI for the initiative, saying she and her family had allegedly experienced medical negligence on three occasions. She said increased public awareness was necessary to help people recognise possible problems in healthcare and know the appropriate steps to take.
The outreach featured an interactive question-and-answer session, with participants seeking clarification on various health-related issues and sharing personal experiences they believed were connected to medical negligence. Other participants also shared their experiences and made suggestions on ways to improve patient care while calling for better welfare and working conditions for healthcare professionals. In her closing remarks, Igogori led the participants in a pledge to take greater responsibility for their health and that of their family members. She urged them not to remain silent when they did not understand what was happening during medical treatment. When patients know their rights, they can ask better questions, and when they ask questions, they become more active participants in their own care.
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