[TRENDING VIDEO] ‘Are we supposed to use our oath to feed our children?’ Doctor defends colleagues over Toluwanisings’ death
A doctor has criticised the tendency to blame medical practitioners whenever patients die during industrial actions, following comments by a TVC presenter linking the death of gospel singer Toluwanisings to the ongoing doctors’ strike.
The doctor questioned why medical professionals are often held responsible for such tragedies without equal attention being given to the wider problems affecting the health sector.
In a response to the presenter, the doctor argued that medical practitioners also have families to cater for and face the same economic challenges as other Nigerians.
“Why are we always so quick to blame doctors? Are we supposed to use our oath to feed our children? Don’t we shop in the same markets as everyone else? Don’t our children attend the same schools? This is unfair. Let’s hold the right people accountable and direct the blame where it truly belongs,” the doctor said.
The doctor’s response has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by healthcare workers and the impact of industrial actions on patients who depend on hospitals for treatment.
While doctors are expected to uphold their professional responsibilities and provide care to patients, the doctor argued that their commitment to saving lives should not be used as a reason to ignore their welfare or the issues that lead to industrial disputes.
The comments also raised questions about accountability in Nigeria’s health sector, particularly when disagreements between medical workers and government authorities disrupt healthcare services.
The death of Toluwanisings has also drawn attention to the consequences of interruptions in medical services, with the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death forming part of the public discussion.
However, establishing responsibility for an individual’s death requires verified information about the circumstances and medical care involved. The doctor’s response did not, by itself, establish whether the strike contributed to the singer’s death.
The exchange has renewed debate over whether blame should be directed at individual healthcare workers or whether greater attention should be paid to the authorities responsible for addressing disputes and ensuring that hospitals can continue to provide essential services.
The doctor maintained that accountability should be directed at those responsible for the problems rather than placing the entire burden of public anger on medical practitioners.
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‘Are we supposed to use our oath to feed our children?’
— Doctor defends colleagues over Toluwanisings’ death
#toluwanisings #doctorstrike #ibadan #newsclickng
— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) October 17, 2026
