Persons with gunshot wounds are to be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without initial monetary deposit and also without a Police report.
The above is contained in the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 which was enacted on the 29th of December, 2017.
Anambra Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed who made this known said that it shall be the duty of any hospital that receives or accepts any person with a gunshot wound to report the fact to the nearest Police Station within two hours of commencement of treatment.
The Police will therefore, take up investigation with a view to determine the circumstances under which the person was shot. It also said that the police will only receive any person with gunshot wounds from the hospital for the purposes of investigation if only it is signed by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital to certify him fit.
The Act also stated that Police will render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure such person will be taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.
It also said that there is no need to be scared of Police intimidation and maybe subsequent arrest as the law stipulates that every volunteer or helper of a victim shall be treated with respect and not be subjected to unnecessary and embarrassing interrogation in their genuine attempt to save life.
Meanwhile,
The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 has stated that anybody who is guilty of neglecting any gunshot victim , which will lead to substantial physical, mental , emotional and psychological damage, shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 15 years and not less than 5 years without the option of fine.
The law also states that any person or authority including any Police Officer or other security agents or hospital who stands by or omits to do his bit which results in unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of 50,000 naira or both.
In addition to other penalty, the High Court shall order a person or corporate body convicted of an offence , to make restitution to the victim by directing that person or corporate body to pay to the victim or victims , an amount equivalent to the loss sustained by the victims.
Consequently, Medical practitioners are thereby to adhere to the contents of the Act to avoid court case and probably loosing money and ending up in jail.
