By Harmless Anaba
Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee, FCCPC, has clarified that the arraignment plastic surgeon, Dr Adepoju Anuoluwapo and her clinic, Med Contour, earlier than a Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Lagos for allegedly obstructing an investigation into the loss of life of one in every of her affected person, Mrs Nneka Onwuzuligbo, adopted a grievance the fee obtained, and never a vendetta, as prompt in a paid write-up.
FCCPC in a five-count cost introduced in opposition to Anuoluwapo and her beauty surgical procedure agency MedContour Ltd alleged that the defendants shunned its investigation into the case and declined to provide paperwork required by the fee.
On insinuation of lack of jurisdiction to take up the matter, the fee famous that although the matter is earlier than a reliable court docket, the fee has powers to deal with a grievance from any a part of the nation, as supplied by the Act setting it up, identical to different federal companies.
The fee referred to as on Anuoluwapo to focus on defending herself in court docket, reasonably than using paid writers to malign the fee and the court docket, noting that it might not permit itself to be drawn it additional reacting to paid write-ups, however will lead proof to show its case in opposition to the defendants in court docket.
It is going to be recalled that the fee had in a press release on April 14, 2020, by Babatunde Irukera, its Chief Govt Officer, Pursuant to Sections 17(s),(t),(x),(y); 18; 32; 123, 123-125; 127-130, stated that it grew to become conscious of complaints and dissatisfaction with respect to sure elective/beauty surgical procedures carried out by MedContour companies. Basically, the allegations are that MedContour engages in conduct that’s thought of in any other case unprofessional, deceptive and probably injurious, together with leading to potential fatalities.”
The assertion added: “The Fee’s preliminary evaluation signifies that there’s ample possible trigger to inquire into the buyer safety elements of the representations and companies of MedContour, and its operatives. As such, the fee has opened an lively investigation into the practices and processes of MedContour, its promoter, associates and workers.
“This isn’t an expert/licencing or disciplinary inquiry. Nevertheless, the problems of authorization of the enterprise and or its promoters, associates or workers to conduct the topic surgical procedures; representations made to clients about their abilities, typically anticipated outcomes for related procedures, and assurances of particular outcomes in related instances; responsiveness throughout follow-up or post-procedure complaints; and transparency to customers and relevant regulatory authorities, are implicated below FCCPA.
“Sections 17(s),(t),(x),(y) and 130 prohibit obnoxious practices, require companies to be secure and for the Fee to behave to scale back danger of damage to customers, in addition to guarantee companies adjust to relevant requirements of care. Sections 123, 124 and 125 prohibit making deceptive statements, issuing ensures or statements concerning the efficacy abilities or possible outcomes with respect to companies which might be untested or scientifically unproven, and Sections 127, 128 and 129 prohibit unfair or unreasonable contract phrases, exclusion, or waiver of reliable legal responsibility for prevailing requirements of care.
“In furtherance of this investigation, the Fee is eager to collect extra info from customers with earlier experiences with MedContour or its operatives, whether or not the experiences have been passable or in any other case, and from individuals who’ve any such related info, together with concerning the experiences of others.
“The Fee, subsequently, requests credible info on this regard within the type of a concise narrative of info together with the identification of the MedContour operatives the interactions occurred with,” the assertion added.
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