Medical practitioners have been charged to embrace compassionate healthcare while discharging their services to humanity.
The President of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, Prof. Ibrahim Oreagba, stated in his presentation at this year’s association seminar and National Working Committee meeting held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
He stated that a lack of compassion and the bad conduct of some healthcare professionals have been linked to the avoidable death of many patients in hospitals.
Speaking on the theme of the seminar, “Compassionate Healthcare: Integrating Islamic Values,” Oreagba urged healthcare professionals to show compassion towards their patients to save lives.
“Non-compassionate behavior by medical personnel often leads to prolonged stays for patients in medical facilities. If compassion is not present, the consequences for the patient are grave. The patient can even pass away.
“Doctors should understand the feelings of their patients. How the patient feels matters a lot. Islam has provided that compassion is key. We must focus on the patient beyond just addressing their complaints.
“The way doctors and other healthcare professionals relate to their patients will reveal other problems the patients may have, allowing doctors to care for those issues. You must focus on the patient and provide the necessary skills and quality service that will help the patient recover quickly.”
The professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Lagos added that the seminar aimed to enlighten the public on the need for compassion in Islamic-based healthcare practice.
“People sometimes carry out their work in hospitals without being compassionate, without really taking the interests of the patient to heart.”
He therefore recommended that healthcare professionals should know the feelings of their patients to identify and address other problems they may have.
