In a harrowing account of alleged medical malpractice, Kelion Nwoha-Mba, a grieving father of three, has accused a government-owned hospital in Lagos of negligence leading to the death of his wife, Fiona, during childbirth. Fiona, 35, passed away on October 30, 2024, after a series of surgeries the family claims were performed without consent.
Recalling the events in a report published by the Punch Newspaper, Nwoha-Mba said, “On October 29, 2024, we arrived at the hospital for a planned caesarean section. The procedure wasn’t an emergency. After our son was delivered, the doctors informed me they had removed fibroid from my wife without my prior approval. They even asked me to buy a container to take the fibroid home.”
Nwoha-Mba was left stunned by the unauthorized fibroid removal, especially given his family’s history of complications from such surgeries. “If they had informed me, I would have asked them to remove her womb in the first surgery to avoid further complications. My wife already had three children; we weren’t seeking more. Instead, their actions created an emergency,” he added.
Following the fibroid surgery, Fiona’s condition rapidly deteriorated, leading doctors to perform a second operation to remove her womb. “Her stomach started swelling after the first surgery,” Nwoha-Mba said. “I was sent to get four pints of O-negative blood, but after the second surgery, they told me I could now bring O-positive blood. It was chaos.”
Despite these interventions, Fiona never regained consciousness and passed away hours later in the recovery room.
The hospital’s lack of communication and alleged insensitivity added to Nwoha-Mba’s anguish. “No one reached out to offer condolences until I personally went to request her medical report,” he explained. “Their managing director’s attempt to commiserate with me felt like damage control.”
Nwoha-Mba is now considering legal action. However, financial constraints and the demands of raising three children alone present significant challenges. “Taking on a government hospital is daunting and costly,” he admitted. “If I can find a pro bono lawyer, I’ll pursue the case to raise awareness and prevent future tragedies.”
Describing Fiona as a vibrant and loving woman, Nwoha-Mba said, “She was full of life and brought joy wherever she went. It’s hard to explain to our children why their mother isn’t coming back.”
He also appealed to hospitals and the public to take lessons from his family’s ordeal. “If a hospital isn’t equipped to handle a case, they shouldn’t take it on. And to men, understand that women risk their lives every time they give birth—respect that,” he urged.
Nwoha-Mba hopes Fiona’s tragic death can spark meaningful reforms in medical practices and accountability in Nigeria. “This didn’t have to happen,” he said. “I want her death to be the last of its kind.”
Read Also: Lagos Woman Claims Doctor Removed Her Womb Without Consent During Routine Fibroid Surgery
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