Canada-Based Doctor Alleges Widespread Fake Appendicitis Surgery Scam in Nigerian Hospitals
A Nigerian medical doctor currently practicing in Canada has made explosive allegations about fraudulent practices among some healthcare professionals in Nigeria. Dr. Arinze Onwumelu, who worked in Nigeria before relocating abroad, claims certain doctors deliberately misdiagnose patients with appendicitis to generate quick income through completely fabricated surgical procedures.
Shocking Revelations from Medical Insider
In a viral video that has sparked widespread concern, Dr. Onwumelu detailed how he personally witnessed colleagues engaging in this unethical practice during his time working in Nigerian healthcare facilities. The doctor explained that these fraudulent physicians would falsely identify appendicitis in patients, then wheel them into operating theaters where they would merely make superficial incisions without actually performing any genuine surgical intervention.
"I worked in Nigeria so I know what I am talking about because I witnessed it, I have seen it," Dr. Onwumelu emphasized in his testimony. "There are a couple of doctors back home, in Africa generally, in the process of trying to hustle as they call it, they tell patients they have appendicitis, actually take them into the theater and just slice the skin, close it, and ask the patient to go."
The Dangerous Consequences of Medical Fraud
The Canada-based physician highlighted the serious medical dangers created by these fake procedures. When patients who believe they have undergone appendectomies later develop genuine appendicitis while abroad, healthcare providers face dangerous diagnostic confusion. Dr. Onwumelu described encountering such cases in Canadian emergency rooms, where patients presented with apparent surgical scars but actually had intact, inflamed appendices requiring immediate attention.
"Now the problem is, the person now comes abroad and gets the real appendicitis and comes to emergency and I will be running up and down like a headless chicken," he explained. "I will be running up and down because the appendix scar is there. The patient knows she has had appendectomy and I can see the appendix scar. Everyone will be confused."
Broader Implications for Healthcare Trust
Dr. Onwumelu's allegations point to deeper systemic issues within certain segments of Nigeria's healthcare sector. The practice he describes not only represents financial fraud against patients but also creates potentially life-threatening situations when individuals require genuine medical care later. These revelations come amid ongoing concerns about medical ethics and professional standards in various healthcare systems globally.
The doctor concluded with a stern warning to medical professionals everywhere: "There are things you should not do as a medical doctor, no matter where you are. No matter the situation or the circumstance." His testimony has ignited conversations about medical accountability, patient safety, and the need for stronger regulatory oversight in healthcare delivery systems.
