Mr. Ausbet Udebu, 56, says the doctors’ action led to the death of Ngozi, 46, a mother-of-four, on March 28, 2016. He alleged that the physician diagnosed and treated Ngozi of ulcer, but the autopsy showed that she died of Asphyxia.
Udebu who said Ngozi had severe stomach pain, added that: “We rushed her to LUTH around 9pm. She underwent some tests/scan. A doctor checked her and said the scan revealed some trace of ulcer. He then prescribed Gascol and an injection, which were not available at LUTH.
I bought the prescribed drugs. Still, there was no relief. The doctor then prescribed another brand of injection called IV NEXIUM. Again, I bought it.” He said the emergency unit where Ngozi was kept had no light, fan and good ventilation. He said he used his phone flashlight to assist the doctor in finding her vein, adding that he fanned her because she was sweating profusely and had difficulty breathing because of the stuffy room.
He went on: “My wife was moved to the female ward later where I was told that no patient relation was allowed to stay. Even her younger sister volunteered to stay and help her out in case of any need but the nurses refused, saying it was against the hospital’s policy.
During this time, my wife’s condition deteriorated to the extent of needing oxygen. I bought an oxygen mask to help her breathe. In her weak state, my wife pleaded with the nurses to permit me or her younger sister to be with her through the night, but her plea was equally turned down. ‘Daddy, don’t go’ was the last words I heard her say. I felt dejected as I was forced out of the ward around 11pm.”
Ngozi died in the early hours of that morning. Nobody contacted the family when she passed on. Everything about LUTH is wrong. A ward with more than 35 patients with only two nurses available to attend to them. It was later I learnt that any patient who registered in any of the doctors’ private clinics will have an army of doctors attending to him/her because he/she has paid in the doctor’s private clinic.” Cc: The Nation
