Dear Doctors, it is Your Duty to Protect Your Patients’ Rights

Regarding the fiasco surrounding the index Covid-19 patient in Benue, the Benue State Government’s decision to reveal said patient’s details was wrong.

It’s no use giving excuses such as these are desperate times and what not and what not. Isn’t the HIV/AIDS pandemic still on going? Should the names of all those infected also be exposed so everyone can be protected? This is the not the first time the world is facing a pandemic, and this certainly wont be the last time. However, history has shown that, in times of crises, authorities are often quick to infringe on the freedom of the people in the name of public welfare.

The argument that even famous persons have had their details revealed is non existent. Every individual is different. Famous persons have the fame and money to not be subjected to stigma, you cannot say the same for a common citizen. In fact, for the fame and fortune they enjoy, it is responsible of them to disclose their identities if they so wish thereby helping to alleviate public fear and stigma. The key there, is if they so wish.

Every patient reserves their right to confidentiality. “Confidentiality is the right of an individual to have personal, identifiable medical information kept private.”

The NCDC which is the key organization in the fight against Covid-19 has directed against revealing the names of patients, because it is unethical. It is a breach of human rights.

A statement by Chikwe Ihekweazu reads, “We’re really appealing to our Leaders across the country. Please, let the experts do the reporting. Nobody should reveal the identity of a patient, even if it’s the first patient in your state …. This is a virus. They haven’t committed an offence; they haven’t done anything wrong. We have to show empathy towards all our patients; That’s what we signed up to as healthcare workers.”

The “Right to Privacy” is a fundamental human right as declared by the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was drafted after WWII. This right has been adopted by many countries all over the world to restrain the actions of governments and private organizations that threaten the privacy of individuals.

Who is to be held to task actually, the doctors and health officials, it is our duty to uphold our patients trust in us. It is our duty to let the public see, that their personal health information can be safe guarded.

As health care workers and health officials, we should all remember that maintaining confidentiality can aid effective communication between doctors and patients, between healthcare workers and the community. This is necessary for optimum care, enhanced autonomy and prevention of future discrimination and stigmatization.

For a government that is woefully lacking when it comes to governance, this attempt at usurping the health sector and trying to please the masses just shows their insecurity and their need to remain relevant at a point when they ought to remain in the background and aid the true experts to fulfill their duties.

“Irony is when people claim to be expert and do not possess rudimentary information about the field” ~ Shreyash Mishra

Dear Doctors, It is your duty to protect your patients’ rights.

“Foolish the doctor, who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients “ ~ Hippocrates

It will do us well to remember the famous words of German Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemöller, pictured below.