A Nigerian doctor based in Canada has made shocking allegations that some medical practitioners in Africa engage in unethical and fraudulent practices, including performing fake appendectomies.
In a statement, the doctor, identified only as Zo, said that certain patients are told they have appendicitis and are taken to operating theatres for what is purported to be an appendectomy. In reality, Zo claims, no actual surgery is performed.
“These patients never had appendicitis,” Zo said. “It’s simply a way for the doctors to make quick money.”
According to Zo, the deceit sometimes comes to light when these patients later move abroad to countries such as Canada, the United States, or Europe. During genuine surgical procedures, medical examinations have reportedly revealed surgical scars, even though the patients had never undergone real surgery before.
The allegations raise serious ethical concerns about medical practices in some parts of Africa and could have implications for patient trust and international medical evaluations.
Medical associations and regulatory bodies in affected countries have yet to respond to these claims.
