Police Orders Bauchi Hospitals To Treat Accident, Gunshot Victims Without Clearance
Bauchi state police command has directed that hospitals operating in the state should not demand police clearance before attending or treating accident and gunshot victims.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar in Bauchi Monday.
“The Bauchi State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that, accident or gun-shot victims do not require Police clearance before receiving medical treatment.
“However, when such incidence happens the matter should be reported immediately to the Police as clearly stated under Section 4 of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 1984,” Datti stated.
According to him, the act warned that sheltering and treating an armed robber without reporting to the police is a punishable offence under the act.
It reads: “(1) It shall be an offence punishable under this Act for any person to knowingly house, shelter, or give quarters to any person who has committed an offence under section 1 (2) of this Act.
“(2) It shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits, treats or administers any drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report the matter to the police.
“(3) Any-
(a) Person who; or
(b) hospital or clinic which, fails to report as stipulated in subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
“(4) A person convicted of an offence under subsections (1) and (3) of this section shall be Iiable-
(a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; and
(b) In the case of a hospital or clinic, to a fine of ten thousand naira and in addition the hospital or clinic shall be closed down.”
The command therefore calls on all hospitals, clinics and other members of the general public to strictly adhere to the directive contained in the statement.
It could be recalled that a law was earlier passed by the Bauchi State House Assembly and signed by governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar for the treatment of accident victims in all public hospitals across the state.
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Source: Daily Trust
