Warning against the use of force on
patients, the National Human Rights Commission stated that no COVID-19 patient
should be forced into isolation or treatment centers, adding that the use of
force should be the last resort.
patients, the National Human Rights Commission stated that no COVID-19 patient
should be forced into isolation or treatment centers, adding that the use of
force should be the last resort.
This is set out in a set of Standard
Minimum Guidelines for the Protection of the Rights of COVID-19 Patients
provided by the Commission by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, in
Abuja, on Wednesday.
Minimum Guidelines for the Protection of the Rights of COVID-19 Patients
provided by the Commission by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, in
Abuja, on Wednesday.
Mr. Tony Ojukwu said the guidelines
were released “following incessant violations of patient’s rights in
treatment centers in some parts of the world, resulting in protests and some
other cases”.
were released “following incessant violations of patient’s rights in
treatment centers in some parts of the world, resulting in protests and some
other cases”.
The 10-page document states that the
“commission shall regularly monitor and report on the implementation of
these Standard Minimum Guidelines.”
“commission shall regularly monitor and report on the implementation of
these Standard Minimum Guidelines.”
On the need to ensure the dignity of
the patients, the document states, ‘No patient shall be forcibly taken to the
centers or any other location or subjected to any kind of physical restraint
during transport or for the purpose of testing or treatment.
the patients, the document states, ‘No patient shall be forcibly taken to the
centers or any other location or subjected to any kind of physical restraint
during transport or for the purpose of testing or treatment.
“This method of removal or restriction
is only a matter of last resort, and caution must be taken not to inflict
physical harm to the patient.”
is only a matter of last resort, and caution must be taken not to inflict
physical harm to the patient.”
“In situations where patients are
transported from their homes to the centre, such patients shall be accorded
their rights to dignity and privacy and shall be treated with the utmost
respect and compassion.”
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transported from their homes to the centre, such patients shall be accorded
their rights to dignity and privacy and shall be treated with the utmost
respect and compassion.”
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“Apart from seeking to protect
patients’ rights to privacy, the Guidelines also aim to protect, among other
things, patients’ rights to appropriate and timely medical information;
equality and non-discrimination; the integrity of the individual, mental
well-being and staff of the treatment centers and access to ‘safe and secure
accommodation in the centers.”
patients’ rights to privacy, the Guidelines also aim to protect, among other
things, patients’ rights to appropriate and timely medical information;
equality and non-discrimination; the integrity of the individual, mental
well-being and staff of the treatment centers and access to ‘safe and secure
accommodation in the centers.”
The document also provides for the
patient’s rights to access to nutritious food and clean drinking water, privacy
and confidentiality, religious observances as well as access to communication
and information.
patient’s rights to access to nutritious food and clean drinking water, privacy
and confidentiality, religious observances as well as access to communication
and information.
The guidelines also seek special
protection and guarantees for vulnerable groups, such as older persons,
children and infants, persons with disabilities, and persons in Intensive Care
Unit.
protection and guarantees for vulnerable groups, such as older persons,
children and infants, persons with disabilities, and persons in Intensive Care
Unit.
When engaging in clinical and drug
trials, the Center shall ensure that any patient involved in a clinical trial
gives written consent in the presence of an informed family member or legal
representative.
trials, the Center shall ensure that any patient involved in a clinical trial
gives written consent in the presence of an informed family member or legal
representative.
In conclusion, the center must provide
“detailed explanation of possible side effects and consequences of
clinical or drug trials for patients” and that the health authorities and
the Center must obtain written consent from the patients and their informed
family member or legal representative prior to the extraction or donation of
body tissue for experiments or further treatment of COVID-19.
“detailed explanation of possible side effects and consequences of
clinical or drug trials for patients” and that the health authorities and
the Center must obtain written consent from the patients and their informed
family member or legal representative prior to the extraction or donation of
body tissue for experiments or further treatment of COVID-19.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ojukwu, stated that the guidelines were
issued in accordance with the Commission’s mandate to protect and promote human
rights in accordance with its Act of Establishment.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ojukwu, stated that the guidelines were
issued in accordance with the Commission’s mandate to protect and promote human
rights in accordance with its Act of Establishment.
While commending governments and
health authorities at the federal and state levels for the efforts already made
to establish facilities in the centers and for other palliative measures.
health authorities at the federal and state levels for the efforts already made
to establish facilities in the centers and for other palliative measures.
He urged them to research and put in
place processes to enforce the Basic Minimum Guidelines.
place processes to enforce the Basic Minimum Guidelines.
