Family Accuses Nigerian Medical Centre In Ogun Of Negligence As Daughter Dies After Injection

The family of Fiyinfolu Akanro has expressed dismay over the purported negligence of doctors at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which they claim resulted in the death of their daughter, Ireti Oludara Akanro.

Ireti Oludara Akanro, a 40-year-old woman allegedly died on Friday, May 24, 2024 shortly after an injection of a contrast dye.

One of the family members told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that Ms. Iretiogo Oluwadara Akanro went to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) on Friday, 17th May 2024 following a bout of cough, for medical solution.

He explained that the lapses began with the absence of the consultant doctor and senior registrar on duty, which left a junior doctor solely responsible for administering the contrast dye required for CT scan.

He added that the possible neglect meant that the signs of a negative reaction went unnoticed and unaddressed until it was too late.

The source said; "Medical personnel at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta exhibited significant negligence during a CT scan procedure, ultimately resulting in the tragic death of IRETIOGO OLUWADARA AKANRO. There are reasons for us to believe that the incident was marked by multiple failures in adherence to established safety protocols and standards of care.

"Key lapses began with the absence of the consultant doctor and senior registrar on duty, which left a junior doctor solely responsible for administering the contrast dye required for the CT scan. This lack of senior supervision was a critical oversight, especially considering the high-risk nature of the procedure.

"This was confirmed in a meeting with Head of clinicals after the incident occurred that Friday where both medical personnel agreed to their absence during the procedure. The patient had been treated for an incessant cough for months. An initial Xray, which revealed nothing, led to the request for a CT scan. This indicated that the patient was otherwise hale and hearty, without any underlying ailments."

He added that "The patient was known to have special needs in terms of communication, which required additional care and attention. However, this crucial aspect was overlooked, leading to inadequate communication and understanding of the patient's condition and needs during the procedure. The injection of the contrast dye, known to potentially lead to severe adverse reactions including death, demanded meticulous precaution and heightened alertness.

"However, the necessary protocols were not followed. The medical team we believe, failed to administer a sample dosage to observe any immediate adverse effects on the patient’s body, a standard precautionary measure. Additionally, we also believe that they did not have the antidote readily available to counteract a possible negative reaction to the dye based on how events played out on Friday.

"Moreover, there was a glaring lack of preparedness for emergency situations. The required equipment for resuscitating the patient, in the event of complications such as cardiac arrest or severe allergic reactions, was not adequately prepared or on standby as was witnessed first hand by the mother of the patient, in whom hands the patient we believed breathe her last.

"Throughout the procedure, the patient is believed to have been inadequately monitored. Vital signs, which could have indicated distress or the onset of complications, may not have been sufficiently observed. This possible neglect meant that the signs of a negative reaction went unnoticed and unaddressed until it was too late.

"Upon discovering the adverse effect of the dye on the patient, an alarm raised by the medical personnel led to the patient's mother, who was earlier in the waiting room, to walk into the procedure room. She found her daughter gasping for breath and carried her in distress until she eventually could no longer breathe. It was at that point that the medical personnel took the patient from the mother into another room. Unfortunately, all efforts to resuscitate the patient after this were simply too late and futile.

"The combination of these possible failures absence of senior medical staff, insufficient precautionary measures, lack of emergency preparedness, poor monitoring, failure to accommodate the patient's special communication needs, and the delayed response to the adverse reaction constituted a severe deviation from the expected standard of care.

"This series of possible negligent actions and omissions directly led to the patient’s death, underscoring the critical importance of rigorous adherence to medical protocols and thorough supervision during high-risk procedures," the source added.

However, Segun Orisajo, the FMC's head of public relations and information, when contacted by SaharaReporters on Thursday refused to comment on the matter.