Chinazor Megbolu
9 May 2008
Lagos — Kehinde Babalola , the baby girl whose right arm was amputated by the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo state has sued the management of the hospital for N500 million for extreme negligence , reckless treatment and violations of her fundamental rights by the staff of the hospital.
Executive Director, Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) , Dr. Felix Morka , disclosed this recently at a press conference in Lagos , stating that SERAC , in collaboration with Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu of the law offices of Aluko Oyebode and Company, on May 5, 2008, filed the unprecedented lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State on behalf of Baby Kehinde .
According to Morka ,"the lawsuit seeks to hold UCH accountable for its actions and conduct," adding that "the hospital acted negligently and recklessly towards Baby Kehinde and also caused irreparable bodily damage to her."
The SERAC boss stated that UCH subjected the litte girl to unlawful discrimination and untold indignities during and after the incident, maintaining that the hospital equally treated her family with utter disrespect and contempt .
Speaking further, he said the UCH authorities have been approached for a dialogue on the issue but have been rebuffing all efforts . He promised that SERAC will continue to fight the cause on behalf of Baby Kehinde until justice is done.
According to Morka , the case is not a matter that will be submitted to the court and abandoned but one that must be pursued to the end.
He said though SERAC has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Police Commissioner in Oyo State as well as the Nigerian Medical Council on the case , investigation is yet to commence .
He however disclosed that after much pressure, the Police Commissioner has promised to look into the issue.
The SERAC Director refuted allegation by the management of UCH that his organisation is fighting the case for financial gain, saying the hospital is just being ridiculous , adding , that since the issue started, SERAC has expended over N1 million.
Frank Ofone , a lawyer with the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Ijebu-Ode who spoke at the event said, " we have to stand up to fight and say no to all the negligence of UCH against Baby Kehinde as well as others that have consequences," adding that support should be accorded SERAC to pursue this court case to a conclusion.
It will be recalled that Baby Kehinde was born a twin on April 26, 2004. Unfortunately, her twin sister, Taiye passed away on May 22, 2004 after a brief illness.
Shortly thereafter, Baby Kehinde took ill and was taken to UCH where she was admitted in the second pediatric ward C1 on account of diarrhea related symptoms.
In the course of treatment, the hospital staff that attended to her negligently forgot a tourniquet tied on her right arm to facilitate drip infusion overnight.
By the following morning, her arm had developed massive gangrene infection thus prompting the hospital to amputate her arm.
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