Accra: Chairman of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, has defended the decision to disclose the names of health workers in a recent committee report, insisting that transparency and public accountability must take precedence in healthcare investigations.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Akosa addressed concerns raised by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) during an appearance on Channel One TV. The GMA had argued that naming healthcare professionals in the report was unfair. Professor Akosa, however, emphasized that investigative committees are tasked with establishing facts in the public interest, and professional bodies must be willing to address lapses in healthcare delivery rather than shielding colleagues from scrutiny.
He articulated that failing to name those involved could lead to a cover-up, as professionals might protect their colleagues. As a former president of the GMA, Professor Akosa stressed the importance of healthcare professionals introducing themselves to patients to uphold proper patient care standards.
The GMA president had previously reacted to the report, warning against making health workers scapegoats. Professor Akosa acknowledged that while the GMA exists to protect doctors' welfare, it also holds a duty to hold its members accountable when standards are compromised.
He further clarified that the report was conducted independently and comprehensively in the interest of public accountability. Professor Akosa explained the committee's deliberate choice of the term "medical neglect" over "medical negligence," noting the latter is a legal term.
The report found that patient Charles Amissah reportedly bled continuously for a significant period without effective intervention. Professor Akosa highlighted failures by emergency responders, particularly ambulance personnel, as part of the chain of medical neglect identified. He alleged that the Emergency Medical Technicians did not adequately pack the wound to stop the bleeding, which was a critical factor in the patient's death.
He emphasized that if proper interventions had been made, including setting up an IV line, the outcome might have been different, marking the point where medical neglect began.