Alarm as Intern Medic Student Said to Operate Patients Without Supervision
A law firm in Nairobi has raised alarm over unsupervised medical practices by medical interns and registrars at a leading city hospital.
Speaking on a phone call with Kenyans.co.ke, an advocate from the law firm claimed that medical students and registrars at the hospital were routinely treating patients without supervision from senior medical staff.
Criticizing the hospital, the advocate emphasized that this practice breached medical standards and violated the human and constitutional rights of patients.
The hospital, however, did not respond to the allegations, stating that it had not yet received the letter from the law firm.
The advocate affirmed that in order to guarantee that the matter is settled without requiring a judicial intervention, the legal firm has also sent letters to the hospital’s chief executive officer, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
“There are three types of students at the hospital: medical students, doctor interns who have just graduated and are waiting to get licensed and the registrars at the market department,” he explained.
“The hospital is a teaching hospital, so it cannot leave these students unsupervised; they have to be supervised,” he stated.
The lawyer cautioned that patients treated by “undertrained or unsupervised” healthcare providers run the danger of experiencing “undignified” medical results in a letter dated February 18, 2025, sent to the hospital’s CEO and copied to the KMPDC and KMPDU.
Additionally, the advocate pointed out that if patients are not told of the skill level of those providing treatment, permitting unsupervised medical interns to do so may compromise the informed consent principle.
“Every citizen has the right to access information that is held by the state or another individual in accordance with Article 35. This includes information about who is treating them and their level of expertise,” he said.
Additionally, he has emphasized the necessity for the organization to set up procedures that guarantee patients are aware of the level of competence of the medical personnel treating them.
The advocate has also requested that the hospital assess its present intern and registrar supervision procedures and submit a report outlining the actions taken to resolve the matter within 30 days.
“Failure to address these concerns may lead to further legal action, including but not limited to reporting to relevant health regulatory bodies, initiating lawsuits for negligence, and advocating for systemic change through public and legal channels,” he stated.
