How my wife died after doctors allegedly left scissors in her stomach – Husband

A Kano-based man, Abubakar Muhammad, has accused the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre of negligence that allegedly led to the death of his wife, Aishatu Umar.

Muhammad said his wife died from complications linked to a surgical procedure carried out at the state-owned health facility located in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Muhammad said the mother of five passed away in the early hours of Monday, about four months after doctors allegedly forgot a pair of scissors in her stomach during surgery.

He explained that his wife had fallen ill several months earlier and underwent surgery at the hospital in September.

According to him, shortly after the operation, she began experiencing persistent and severe abdominal pain.

Muhammad said his wife repeatedly returned to the hospital to complain about her condition, but was only given pain-relief medication without any further medical investigation.

“Each time she went back to complain, they only prescribed painkillers. They kept telling her the pain was normal for patients who had undergone surgery, but they never recommended an X-ray or any form of scan,” he said.

He added that her condition continued to deteriorate until her death, which he believes could have been prevented with proper medical attention and investigation.

Muhammad said the pain continued for about four months until medical tests and scans were eventually conducted at Muhammad Abdullahi Wade Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, just days before her death.

The results, they claimed, revealed that a pair of surgical scissors had been left inside her body during the September operation.

Efforts were reportedly underway to conduct a corrective surgery to remove the object, but Aishatu Umar died before the procedure could be carried out.

Describing the incident as gross negligence, the husband said the development had not only caused them deep grief but also raised serious concerns about professional standards in the healthcare system.

“While we acknowledge that death is inevitable, we cannot understand how such an error could occur during a surgical procedure. Incidents like this undermine public confidence in medical professionals and health institutions,” Muhammad said.

He then called on the state government and relevant health regulatory authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action, insisting that justice must be served.

Hospital mgt board launches probe

Meanwhile, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the issue.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, issued the order on Tuesday, stating that the investigation aims to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the matter.

“We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. The investigation will be transparent, impartial, and professional, and appropriate actions will be taken in line with established regulations should any negligence be established,” the statement added.

The Board assured the public that patient safety remains its utmost priority and pledged commitment to upholding the highest standards of healthcare delivery in Kano State.

Cases of medical negligence

Medical negligence, where errors or lapses in clinical care, including misdiagnoses, botched surgeries, and failure to investigate post-surgery complications, lead to serious harm or death, had fuelled public outcry in recent times.

A few days ago, celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie accused a private hospital in Lagos, Euracare Hospital, of negligence that led to the death of her 21-month-old son.

The boy, Nkanu, who was suffering from an unspecified infection, died on January 7.

The parents alleged inadequate monitoring, improper dosing, lack of supplemental oxygen, insufficient medical personnel, and delays in responding to his deteriorating condition.

The hospital denied negligence, but the Lagos State government launched an investigation.

Another high-profile case involved Peju Ugboma, a Lagos-based pastry chef who died in 2021 after elective fibroid surgery at a Lagos private hospital.

After the operation, she suffered severe internal bleeding and deteriorated despite complaints of pain. A coroner’s inquest later indicted the hospital’s doctors for medical negligence, citing failure to investigate her condition, lack of adequate monitoring, and delayed response to abnormal signs.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is responsible for investigating cases of medical negligence and sanctioning officials found to be negligent. The council has, in the past, sanctioned dozens of medical practitioners for wrongdoing.

In 2022, MDCN suspended Dr Roberts Osas Ikhu-Omoregbe for six months for gross negligence, which led to the death of his patient.

The doctor, who was charged with five counts, was found guilty of four counts, bordering on professional misconduct, malpractice, negligence, and gross negligence.

MDCN’s tribunal explained that the doctor was grossly negligent in the management of one Mrs Elizabeth Peter Ndueso (now deceased) when he undertook the procedure of Total Abdominal Hysterectomy on her under suboptimal conditions until she died on the operating table.

The MDCN also convicted doctors for professional negligence, such as a case where a physician was found guilty for leaving his clinic without qualified staff, resulting in a patient’s death, and was suspended from practice.

In 2021, about 70 medical practitioners faced MDCN’s tribunal proceedings over alleged negligence, illustrating the volume of cases against health professionals being processed.

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