MDCN harps on professional ethics for house officers, interns

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has charged house officers and interns to adhere strictly to the code of professional conduct and ethics.

Acting Registrar of the council, Dr. T.A.B. Sanusi, said in a statement that this became necessary due to the recent development in the health sector. He pointed out that council was constrained to issue this public notice as guidance to practitioners and members of the public.

The council regulates medical and dental practice, as well as clinical laboratory practice of members in the country as stipulated by the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act Cap M8 LFN 2004 and the various subsidiary legislative documents flowing therefrom.

“Provisional registration is for the purpose of enabling young doctors to undertake internship training in an approved hospital under the supervision of registered specialists.

“It lapses after two years or immediately a doctor is signed off from internship. Generally, it is expected that on employment, interns should complete their postings within 12 calendar months,” the statement reads.

Sanusi explained that during the internship, doctors and dentists are required to undertake 12 weeks’ uninterrupted postings in Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Paediatrics and other relevant specialties for dentistry.

“Any interruption for any reason, including embarking on strikes, during any of the postings, will not be condoned and should be reported immediately to the Chief Medical Director, Medical Director or Medical Superintendent of the internship training Institution.

“Embarking on industrial actions by interns will lead to repeating of their postings afresh without remuneration.”

“Interns are therefore advised to avoid participation in activities like industrial actions that could lead to interruption in their postings,” he stated.