Following the demise of Lagos-based Food Entrepreneur, Mrs. Peju Ugboma, the deceased relatives have accused Premier Specialist Hospital, in Lagos, of “gross negligence” which resulted to Ugboma’s death.
Ugboma was said to have died from internal bleeding, according to an autopsy. She was initially admitted into the hospital late last month, for a fibroid surgery. However, her condition deteriorated after the surgery.
Her family alleged that the hospital was adviced to attend to a suspected internal bleeding, which they ignored.
They narrated that emphasis was given to Ugboma’s blood shortage, without taking advice from the family, who had consulted medical personnel outside the country, to check her for internal bleeding. They also blamed the hospital for wasting time while transferring her to another centre where she would do a CT Scan, among other alleged unnecessary delays.
A statement from the family narrated the issue as thus: “She walked into the Hospital by herself unaided as it was by no means an emergency surgical procedure. She had concluded all the necessary tests required before the surgery, including ECG, PCV, and Covid -19 tests. Her vitals were okay and she had no preexisting conditions prior to surgery.
“The surgery was carried out on the morning of Friday 23rd April 2021, by Drs. Akinsiku, Iwuh, Asemota, Renner, and some other medical personnel in Premier Specialist Hospital, Victoria Island.
“Peju’s husband saw her after the surgery on Friday, and she complained about severe abdominal pain and discomfort, which he felt was not unusual for someone who had just come out of surgery.”
“However, her blood pressure had dropped to as low as the range of 50/30. The doctors then gave her blood transfusion because she had lost a lot of blood during the surgery.
“Early on Saturday morning, she told her husband that the veins on her hands had collapsed and the Hospital wanted to give her fluids on a vein close to her neck and collarbone. She also mentioned that the doctors said her kidneys were not functioning optimally, and a Consultant Nephrologist had been called in to come in that Saturday morning. This was a shock to them both as all tests prior to surgery were fine.
“The Consultant eventually came in as scheduled but dismissed both their concerns.
“By Saturday evening, she had been given 3 pints of blood. The family alleges that none of the gynecologists who performed the surgery attended to her throughout that Saturday despite all her pain and concerns expressed by her husband.
“That same Saturday evening, her blood pressure dipped further. The family allege that Dr. Renner told her husband that they would need to move her to the ICU. He was asked to pay an additional N1.5 million before she could be moved to the ICU and he paid the money without delay. Peju was admitted into the ICU immediately after payment.
“As this was going on, Peju kept complaining of severe pains, and her eyes had turned yellowish. At about midnight that Saturday, she was sedated intravenously.
“By 6.30 am on Sunday, her husband was surprised to find out that his wife had been placed on a respirator. The husband said Dr Renner told him that her condition had deteriorated through the night. Her husband saw that she looked pale, and her eyes had been taped as if to keep them closed, but she was still breathing and the monitors were still reading.
“Peju’s husband had been in touch with a family friend who is a UK based consultant gynecologist. The consultant raised alarm and insisted on speaking with the doctors at Premier hospital. He spoke with Drs. Asemota, Iwuh and the medical director Dr Oshinowo.
“Premier decided to move Peju to a hospital where she could have a CT Scan and possible dialysis. By 10 am on Sunday, her husband was informed that his wife would be moved to Evercare Hospital, Lekki Phase 1.
“However, it took 3 hours before she was moved to Evercare.
“The family said the head of the ICU detected that Peju did not have a pulse and emergency CPR commenced immediately. This failed and she was pronounced dead by 2.20pm on Sunday.”
Premier Hospital is yet to respond to the claims made by the Ugboma family.
