Criminal, Civil and Ethical Framework for Advancements of Benefits of Biotechnology to Mankind

For various reasons, the health status of a man declines with time depending on his environment, food and beverage intake, mentality, stress level, age etc. Fortunately, the ability of man to combat various diseases has advanced due to Biotechnology that is emerging worldwide and Nigeria is not left out. Footings in pharmaceutical biotechnology are embedded in the ability of plants, microorganism and animals to produce low and high molecular weight compounds which are functional for mankind and animals as therapeutics. The development in medical biotechnology has brought different ideas and mechanisms to combat the challenges of deteriorating health by making use of biological parts to treat patients. As with any new innovation, biotechnology comes with a lot of potentials but also with lots of risks, ethical and legal dilemma, hence, the need for law and regulations to serve as guide in the emerging industry. This article examined these criminal and civil issues using doctrinal research methodology and the analytical approach to explore the works of several authors in the field of biotechnology to examine its development. The study thereafter made recommendations on how to create an effective system that will harness the potentialsof the biotechnology especially in the field of pharmacy and medicine. The study concluded that biotechnology can only excel for the benefits of mankind and the environment when pharmaceutical companies, researchers, scholars and government abide by the ethical and legal provisions on biotechnology in order to avoid the consequences of the risks

Administrative and legal protection of medical personnel against criminal and tortious negligence

Background: Medical personnel are bound toexperience some difficulties in the course of duty and they may end up criminally or civilly liable in the performance of these responsibilities. Across the globe, many medical employees have lost their license to practice their profession after facing disciplinary committees for breach of duties. Some have been sued by patients for negligent treatment. Administratively, the hospital management boards have protected their staff against liabilities by being sued instead of the staff, paying some patients off or write off their hospital bills to compensate them for the liabilities of their medical personnel. Legally, medical personnel are also shielded from medical liabilities as long as they observe a high level of care and skills in the course of duty, otherwise, the law will remove the veil of protection and charge them as liable.Methodology: In order to achieve the objectives of this research, the doctrinal and qualitative methodology was adopted. The doctrinal approach enables the authors to explore the position of the Nigerian law to examine the liabilities of medical personal in cases of any malpractice whether intentionally or unintentionally. The qualitative approach was used to analyze the administrative protection of medical personnel by the hospital management board.Conclusion: The study concludes that as long as there is lack of proper supervision of medical personnel by their superior officers, no constant supply of electricity, no improved welfare package for medical personnel, lack of educational sponsorship for career advancement, deliberate observation of advanced professional ethics and honesty on the part of medical personnel, negligence in the course of treatment would not be abated in Nigerian hospitals.Keywords: Medical Personnel, Negligence, Liabilities, Hospital Management, La

Noxious effect of Moringa oleifera leave extract on the developing brain, morphology and behaviour of Wistar rat

The effects of Moringa oleifera leave extracts on the morphology and behaviour of the postnatal developing rat brain was studied. Twenty pregnant rats of Wistar strain weighing between 160 g and 180 g were used in the study. The pregnant rats were divided into two groups of ten animals per group. Group I animals received distilled water and served as control animals, while group II animals received 200 mg/kg body weight of Moringa oleifera leave extract orally. All the animals were provided with rat cubes and water ad libitum during pregnancy and lactation. After birth, five pups of day 21 were weighed and subjected to behavioural study. Animals of days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of age were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the brain dissected out, weighed and fixed in 10% formol-saline for microscopic studies. Some congenital malformations such as meromelia, phocomelia and amelia were observed in the Moringa oleifera group only. There was a significant increase in body weight of the Moringa oleifera animals on days 7, 14 and 21, in brain weight on days 1 and 7, and in cerebral weight on days 1, 7 and 21 (p<0.05). The behaviour of the rats was significantly worse in the Moringa oleifera group, especially in the area of motor function. Microscopically, there was significant reduction in the cerebral cortical thickness of Moringa oleifera group on days 21 and 28. Immunohistochemical studies revealed poor myelination in the Moringa oleifera group. The results indicate that maternal consumption of Moringa oleifera significantly affected the general morphology as well as behaviour of their pups, therefore it should be consumed with caution in pregnancy until better knowledge on humans is available

Maternal death review and outcomes : an assessment in Lagos State, Nigeria

Strong political will by hospital management and supervising government agencies are a prerequisite for effectively addressing the human and infrastructural deficits that predispose to maternal mortality in Lagos State. Failure to address the patients and facility-related causes of maternal mortality could account for the persistently high maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the hospitals. Interventions aimed at redressing all causes identified in the reviews will likely reduce MMRs. The study investigates results of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) conducted in three referral hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria over a two-year period and reports outcomes and lessons learned

Transcutaneous bilirubin nomograms in African neonates.

The use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) as a screening tool, based on relevant population-specific nomogram, or proxy for total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels in assessing the risk of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia is supported by several clinical guidelines on the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, while TcB has been found to significantly over-estimate TSB in neonates of African-American ancestry, with variations across TcB devices, no nomogram has been specifically reported for this racial group. This study therefore set out to develop TcB nomograms for healthy late pre-term and term black African neonates derived from two widely used bilirubinometers.A retrospective analysis of 12,377 TcB measurements obtained from 6,373 neonates in the first postnatal week, over a period of 48 months using Bilichek and JM-103 bilirubinometers. TcB percentiles were computed from hour-specific TcB values and nomograms developed for each of the screening devices. Predictive ability of the 75th and 95th percentiles to detect significant hyperbilirubinemia was evaluated between 24-96 hours of age. The 95th percentile curve was compared with those from other populations.The velocity of TcB rise at 75th and 95th percentiles was generally higher with JM-103 than Bilichek. Both percentiles also peaked at higher TcB levels with JM-103. The 95th percentile for both instruments showed a downward trend as from approximately 114 hours. Both instruments had high negative predictive values across the selected time-epochs and lower discriminatory ability than reported in non-black populations.The predictive utility of TcB as a potential screening tool varies across devices in black African neonates with or without risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia, and lower than levels reported in non-black populations. Equipment-specific nomograms should be considered for TcB monitoring in this racial population where TSB is not routinely available

Hour-specific nomogram for transcutaneous measurements with JM-103 bilirubinometer in African neonates.

<p>Hour-specific nomogram for transcutaneous measurements with JM-103 bilirubinometer in African neonates.</p

Hour-specific nomogram for transcutaneous measurements with Bilichek bilirubinometer in African neonates.

<p>Hour-specific nomogram for transcutaneous measurements with Bilichek bilirubinometer in African neonates.</p

Ability of TcB measurements above the 75^th and 95^th percentiles of TcB nomogram to predict significant hyperbilirubinemia for designated time periods.

<p>Ability of TcB measurements above the 75^th and 95^th percentiles of TcB nomogram to predict significant hyperbilirubinemia for designated time periods.</p

Comparison of 95^th percentile values across selected populations.

<p>Comparison of 95^th percentile values across selected populations.</p