By Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
A couple, Elizabeth Favour Nkwuda and Paulinus Nkwuda, has instituted a N500 million suit at Abakaliki High Court against Mile Four Hospital Abakaliki, for alleged culpable medical negligence, poor assessment and mismanagement of the former’s pregnancy, leading to the death of her baby in the womb.
The baby allegedly died during an unauthorized surgical operation performed on the lady by medical team of the hospital.
Others joined in the suit are the Hospital Administrator, Rev.Sister Celine Anikwem, Dr Azubuike and Dr Osuagwu as 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively.
The 3rd and 4th defendants were the doctors who handled the lady’s situation at the labour room.
Nkwuda, in a five-page witness statement on oath through his counsel, Nwugo C. Nwugo, alleged that neither him nor his wife gave consent neither by oral nor in signature to the surgical operation which took the life of their baby boy.
He said that even after the surgical operation on his wife, neither the doctor who performed it nor the nurses or anybody in the team inform him or his wife how and why the baby boy died if they were not responsible and culpable for his death.
He added that despite the condition of his wife, she was forced out of her bed and the bed was assigned to another person by the hospital management.
He said notwithstanding the medical negligence, the management also forced him to pay N20,950 for drugs and N40,000 for caesarian section.
He contended that negligence, mismanagement and poor assessment of his wife’s pregnancy by the 3rd and 4th defendants and their team which occasioned the death of their baby were as a result of incompetence and quackery.
Nkwuda said by reason of flagrant medical negligence, ill treatment to him and his wife, they had suffered shock, physical, mental and psychology trauma and therefore demanded N500 million in compensation from the defendants.
The case came up for mention on Tuesday at Abakaliki High Court five and all the Defendants have filed their motions for appearance.
The presiding judge, Justice Ogwu, after hearing from both counsels, adjourned the matter till July 18, 2016 for pre-trial.