Corona Virus and Human Rights Violation in Nigeria: A Review of Patient Rights

Abstract

Research has shown that the Corona Virus is a global pandemic that was first reported by the World Health Organization’s Office in China, and this virus that emanated from Wuhan was first reported in Nigeria on the 27th day of February, 2020. The virus which is highly contagious and had put the whole world to a standstill has resulted to the violation of rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Section 35 and 37) and patients right as contained in the National Health Act and the rights of medical personal. The paper had analyzed the conflict between the State trying to fight this global pandemic and ensuring to protect the rights of its citizens. the researchers in trying to do justice to the topic under consideration had looked into the clash of interest between patients, health workers and the society at large in the fight against Corona Virus. The paper concluded that patients while undergoing treatment are to enjoy all their human rights as contained in the 1999 Constitution (right to personal liberty, privacy and freedom of thought conscience and religion) only to the extent that the state is allowed to restrict such rights in the interest of the society. The paper in view of the aforementioned, recommends the criminalization of treatment of any patient without disclosing the rights of the patient under the law and criminalizing any non-disclosure on the path of the patient that jeopardizes public interest.