Elevator accident: NMA sets up panel to investigate doctor’s death

The Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has inaugurated a panel to investigate the death of Diaso Vwaere, a medical doctor, in an elevator accident at General Hospital, Lagos Island.

TheCable had reported that the elevator fell from the 10th floor of the building on Tuesday while Diaso who was undertaking her housemanship at the hospital, was inside it.

The deceased was said to have been on her way to the ground floor to pick up a delivery from a dispatch rider when the incident happened.

The elevator was said to have been known to have faults which staff had made complaints about.

TheCable understands that the panel of inquiry which was inaugurated on Thursday comprises an independent committee of doctors, lawyers and engineers drawn from the NMA, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Members include Saheed Babajide Saheed, who will serve as chairman, Akinrogunde Goke, Hassan JImoh, Tajudeen Salau, Ibironke Shodeinde, and Okeke Anthony.

Others are Akpan Victor, Adebayo Oke, Nonso Azih, and Hajara Jibrin-Yaro.

The panel is tasked with finding the root cause of the incident, engaging all the various stakeholders involved and providing recommendations to the NMA.

The inquiry team is expected to submit a detailed report of its findings and recommendations to the NMA in one week.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NMA had directed its members in General Hospital, Odan; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital; and Massey Street Children’s Hospital, to embark on an indefinite strike.

“We immediately direct our doctors in all the other government hospitals to scale down activities as a mark of respect for our dead colleague. Only emergency services should be rendered for the next 5 days,” the statement reads.

The association had also declared a five-day statewide mourning period for the deceased doctor.