Olusegun Adebumiti, Akure.
Baby Eninlanioluwa, a 13-month old girl was on Tuesday, 26th October taken to the Police Hospital in Akure, the state capital for treatment.
Her parents complained about persistent cough and catarrh and was attended to by a Doctor (name withheld) on duty at around 10:06am. The Doctor said she would be treated for malaria as well as an infection and thereby prescribed the drugs that would be needed to ensure she get better, after a test had been done.
At about 4pm on Tuesday 26th October, 2021, after they had administered the drug on the child, the parents noticed that the child became uncomfortable, held the neck and began to vomit.
“We took the child back to the hospital. At that time she had vomited about four times. The Doctor on duty (name withheld) was informed of the situation. The Doctor was surprised that the Child had taken an overdose and asked that the child be admitted immediately.
“We were surprised and sternly informed the Doctor that she administered the drug as directed by the Pharmacist. The Doctor claimed that the Child ought to have taken a 5ml and not 7ml of the malarial drug that was prescribed (Clartem Suspension).
“Yet, we refused to blame the Hospital for their medical negligence but was more particular about our child getting better. We undertook to foot all the extra bills caused by the negligence of the Hospital even when it was clear that the Hospital is vicariously liable for the child’s discomfort. The Hospital however treated the child and was meant to be discharged on 28th October, 2021.
“However, on 28th October, 2021, around 9am, after undertaking to pay all the other necessary and unplanned fees, we were still asked to submit one big Hypo, One big Jik and one big air freshener,” the parents who preferred not be mentioned told The Precision NG.
The parents added that they were not allowed to leave when they declined to provide the items.
They said all attempt by their lawyer to intervene proved abortive as she was sent out of the facility. They added that in the process, the phone of the lawyer got damaged.
They were later to be released 30 minutes after but that the officials at the health facility didn’t collect the items afterwards.
“We are not willing to press any charges against them for medical negligence and assault, but we asked that a public apology be made by them,” Eninlanioluwa parents said.
When our correspondent visited the facility on Thursday, 4th November, the officer in charge (OC) of medical, Dr Olalekan Dere was not available. Our correspondent was told he went for a meeting.
All efforts to get his phone number abortive as one of the top management staff who responded to The Precision NG declined. He then said the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Fummi Odunlami would speak on the matter.
Our correspondent left the Police Clinic to meet the PPRO who put the OC medical, Dr Dere on phone. He denied knowledge of such incident.
The PPRO however advised that our correspondent meet with the OC medical to get more facts, since The Precision NG insisted such an incident might not have been reported to him when it happened.
Efforts to get Dr Dere’s side of the story proved abortive on Thursday, November 4.
But on Friday, November 5, the PPRO at the request of The Precision NG sent the phone number of the OC medical.
When contacted on phone, the OC medical said he’s aware of the incident.
He said the parents of the baby are the only ones who can request for a formal medical report if they felt the baby had not been managed well. He added that the female lawyer that came to the facility, has no right to request for such as she’s not a party to the case.
“How was her baby treated if I may ask? The lady lawyer isn’t a party to the matter as she’s not the parents of the baby. I don’t think there’s any overdose anywhere.
“There’s no issue here. I’m aware a consultant pediatrician saw the baby. I’m aware a prescription was given and that the baby later vomited. But if the parents felt that there’s a mismanagement, they should request for a medical report. That’s the standard everywhere. So there’s no issue,” the OC medical noted.
Adebumiti is the Publisher of Precision. Contact via Twitter @HakeemAdebumiti
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