Abstract

Millions of individuals are currently visiting abroad for medical care, particularly, from developing to developed nations. We refer to this trend as "medical tourism." One of the profitable sectors that have grown quickly globally, including in Nigeria, is medical tourism. The desire for more affordable, high-quality medical care is one of the causes of the development. However, the growth of the sector has given rise to several medical, legal and socio-ethical dilemmas. These problems need to be resolved since they could have an impact on how medical tourism develops in the future. Among the legal issues covered in this study are the absence of legislative regulation and the absence of proper legal remedy. The quality of care given by medical professionals, the absence of follow-up care for patients in their home countries, the availability of care for locals in destination countries, and the problem resulting from treatment that is prohibited in patients' home countries are among the ethical concerns. The aim of this article is to analyse these medical, legal and socio-ethical dilemmas in order to support the industry's and the nation's future economic development. The foundation of this study is grounded on the doctrinal research method which makes use of secondary sources, including laws, textbooks, and journal articles that deal with medical tourism and the problems that have arisen as a result of its growth. The article concludes that unified medical tourism legislation can address medical, legal and socio-ethical concerns. The article recommends the enactment of a legislative instrument specifically made to govern medical tourism in Nigeria.