The Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has said the findings of the investigative report into the death of engineer Charles Amissah should serve as a strong warning to health professionals to uphold ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, May 7, Dr. Nawaane noted that the latest report goes beyond previous investigations by naming individuals believed to have been involved, rather than focusing only on institutions.
“In previous reports, we only mentioned the hospital and reviewed their work. But this time, individuals have also been named,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Health Minister has instructed the Chief Director of the Ministry to forward the report to the Medical and Dental Council and other relevant health institutions for possible disciplinary action.
According to him, the development should serve as a reminder to health workers to be more cautious and professional in their duties, particularly in an era where incidents can quickly become public through social media.
“This is not something we can treat lightly in this social media era. Before you know it, a video or voice recording will come out to incriminate you,” he cautioned.
Dr. Nawaane stressed that strict adherence to medical ethics is non-negotiable for all health professionals.
“This should serve as a warning to health professionals to change their conduct going forward. If you feel you don’t want to remain in the profession, you can resign. But as long as you are in it, you must work according to the ethics,” he added.
His comments come amid renewed calls for reforms in Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, particularly regarding timely access to critical care for accident victims.
Charles Amissah died on February 6 after being involved in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass. He was reportedly turned away by multiple health facilities before his death.
Presenting the committee’s findings, Chairman Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa stated that Amissah died from severe blood loss caused by a deep upper arm injury that damaged major blood vessels.