Health
Family demands N1 billion from Enugu hospital over ‘reckless’ death of patient
The family of Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu raised the alarm over the circumstances which led to his sudden death at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital (Parklane) Enugu on January 10.
The family of the deceased in a petition to the Chairman of the hospital management board, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, accused the hospital of recklessness, negligence to duty, nonchalance, professional misconduct, and suspected-delegation to an incompetent professional without due supervision.
In the petition signed by their counsel, Chief Sir OAU Onyema, the family said that they will not leave the matter for God, and that they have resolved to assist, by handing the same over to those created by God, and empowered to handle conflicting-issues of men- the Temple of Justice.
The petition reads, “Sir, we have been briefed and our services retained by the family, friends and well-wishers of once ebullient Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu, as represented by his two sons Engr Ugochukwu Ezeanyanwu and Dr Chigozie Ezeanyanwu of No 38 Church Road, Abakpa Housing Estate, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. We shall for the purposes of this letter refer to them as our clients. It is on their instruction, authority, and on their behalf that we write you as follows:
“Sir, our clients approached us in grief, pains and pathetic stories of how they lost their ebullient father in your hospital under unwarranted circumstances.
“Indeed, we are highly constrained, after our detailed review of the contents of the Hospital folder of Late Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu, and all other circumstances surrounding the untimely reckless death of this Doctor of Metallurgical and Material Engineering of Enugu State University of Science and Technology; to the extent that we are gagging ourselves and overstretching our limit of restraint, from describing his death as Manslaughter, and following it up in that regards.
“Sir, without mincing words, Dr Ezeanyanwu was hale and hearty, safe for a minor inguinal hernia on his right groin which sparingly disturbs him. On noticing that the hernia worries him after trekking a reasonable distance, he decided to operate and remove it by a simple elective topical surgery, called herniorrhaphy.
“To give a clue of his physical state of health, Late Dr Ezeanyanwu personally drove himself to Ezeagu over the weekend on Sunday 7th day of January, 2024 to attend many functions with his friends and well-wishers.
“On Tuesday 9/1/2024, being the day slated for the surgery (which in our Local palace is called ‘ibo’-Akpu’), he drove himself to the hospital being ESUT Parklane, and personally procured all the listed surgical materials that were used.
“Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu, was then evaluated medically, and found very fit for the minor surgery called herniorrhaphy. All his Medical diagnostic parameters revealed very stable and Standard health Indices, with no fear of any complication arising.
“The vital signs, hematological indices etc were all standard; to the extent that the surgery as appropriate will be concluded in record time, with little or no bleeding, and he will leave for home the same day.
“However, recklessness, nonchalance, negligence, and manifest incompetence of the particular officer who was “said” to have performed the minor surgery, came into play. We have incontrovertible indices to believe that, he most probably delegated the surgical act to a novice, without following up with adequate supervision, hence resulting Manifest incompetence in the procedure, that led to the tearing of the abdomen of Mr Johnson Ezeanyanwu, to the extent that few hours after the surgery, he was discovered to have a bloated Tummy with almost half of his blood volume pouring into his abdomen, – a situation called intra peritoneal hemorrhage. This is a very serious and strange complication described by experts, to have emanated from simple herniorrhaphy.
“Indeed, this excessive loss of blood, brought about instant re-scheduling of late Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu for another (2nd) surgery called Exploratory Laparoscopy to know what was amiss, as the team on Doctors, who had mismanaged the man during the 1st surgery, were confused at the development.
“It was at this juncture that they called out for blood from the relative, at about 10.00pm on 9th day of January, 2024. And they requested that they purchase, yet another round of surgical materials. The Surgical materials listed where purchased, but to our clients’ chagrin, No single drop of blood was in the entire ESUT Teaching Hospital Blood Bank by then; yet, they embarked on the said surgery. What a state of recklessness.
“However, analysis of experts unveiled that the herniorrhaphy surgery is a minor surgery that does not cause loss of blood. In essence, incompetence or negligence came into place, as the surgery must have not followed the procedure meant for herniorrhaphy, hence occasioning the encountered damaged that brought about, Ezeanyanwu losing half of his entire blood volume into his abdomen is less than 2 hours after the operation. It was then believed that an irregular act or reckless surgical maneuvering was done, which perforated the femoral artery- a deep major blood vessel conveying blood from the back of the abdomen to the Lower limbs – the legs.
“In a bid to unveil the enigma, our clients averred that one Dr Jude Ivenso (Senior Registrar-08025310759), who was stated to have performed the operation, is an experienced Senior Registrar of about 10 years, and duly knows the procedure for herniorrhaphy, and had done same operation severally without any complications. It is also our clients’ averment, that while at the hospital prior to the surgery (Operation) they observed a close association which they will not wish to describe as amorous, between the said Senior Registrar and a young Lady said to be a House Officer on training called Dr Nneoma Ohieri -08177573896, and that the two entered the theater with Late Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu. Who eventually performed the Surgical act, only the two can explain. And they were all working under a Consultant called Dr Chukwudi Ilo – 08037667877.
“Our clients further maintained that it was only when the once ebullient Johnson Ezeanyanwu was dying, from the unwarranted complications from what ought to be a simple surgery, that they beckoned on the said consultant, and their team recommended that blood should be provided by the relatives, for transfusion. Despite, the unavailability of blood, in the entire hospital, which was undertaking surgical operations on people; our clients rushed out, and provided blood after about an hour of request at about 11.00pm same day; and same was cross-matched and passed for infusion on Dr Johnson Ezeanynwu. His PCV was checked, and what was initially about 40% prior to the initial surgery when he came to the hospital, was then about 25%. All other vital signs checked at the hospital had dropped up to half, including his blood pressure and pulse. It was then the team of Doctors aforementioned in the preceding paragraph, took him back to the theater, for the said Exploratory Laparoscopy, to ascertain the exact artery, from where Dr Johnson was losing blood into his abdomen.
“The most painful, was that despite these emergency situations and dangerous pointers, our client averred that the team, was unalarmed, and did not display any serious concern, or state of emergency that needed quick interventions, even when a novice could easily decipher that there is great urgency; and at the end they forgot to even use the blood which they suffered to provide, to at least stabilize the lost blood volume, before anaesthetizing him for the 2nd Surgery / operation of Exploratory Laparoscopy. The consequence, is that Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu got no salvation, or help in the hands of those he entrusted his life, and he suffered hypovolemic shock, with Cardiopulmonary insufficiency, which culminated to cardiac arrest, and consequently death, at about 12.10am. That was pure death, as a result of trauma, caused by the said medical experts, who ought to heal trauma, as Dr Ezeanyanwu NEVER had any trauma, when he drove himself to the hospital for the elective (scheduled) minor surgery / operation.
“Sir, one the son of Late Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu studied and is practicing Medicine and Surgery. A lot of Dr Ezeanyanwu’s associates, friend a and well-wishers – our clients, are Consultant Surgeons; and most of them, who are experts, and are willing to testify in this matter, maintained, that the great Philosopher of Metallurgical and material Engineering, – a great son of Umuezidolu, in Uzo Uwani LGA of Enugu State, suffered serious RECKLESSNESS, NEGLIGENCE, NONCHALANCE, in the hands of this team. And they posit that it is only PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT, AND SUSPECTED-DELEGATION TO AN INCOMPETENT PERSON WITHOUT DUE SUPERVISION, that can lead to such complication from simple minor Surgery. Anatomical positions of the arteries, vis-a-vis the position of the inguinal canal, where the herniorrhaphy was performed, will unveil that it is only recklessness, incompetence and Negligence, that might have resulted to the trauma on the arteries, which caused the death of Ezeanyanwu.
“Our clients expressed concerns on their observed excessive shivery of the House Officer- Dr Ohieri who stumbled into them, next day after the death of Dr Ezeanyanwu, while meeting with Dr Ivenso and the Consultant Dr Ilo on enquiry about the cause of death. They then wondered whether it could be that she was the one that performed the wrong procedure. Was she qualified to do so?, and Who authorized her to do so? And who supervised her? And Why? These are questions the investigation will unveil.
“Honestly, we need not ask what happened. A simple methodical reasoning from syllogism, will broaden our horizon, and incontrovertibly prove by circumstantial evidence, that something awful, and procedurally wrong, happened to Late Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu at his young age of 62, at ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, on 9th day of January, 2024; and such must be punished and compensated.
“We have taken pains to obtain copies of all the contents of Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu’s Folder, laboratory and diagnostic reports, which we will use in proof of our case; and we hereby give you NOTICE TO PRODUCE the same, when called upon. We need no further report to establish our claims, as the contents of the materials before us, collaborated by the cause of death in the Death Certificate issued by your office, are res ipsa loquitur.
“A simply summary of an Expert Report in this imbroglio reads thus: “Following a Pre-Surgical PCV of 40% and Post herniorrhaphy / Pre- Exploratory Laparotomy PCV of 25%, the patient lost 5 Units of blood which is equivalent of half of his blood volume equaling about 2250 -2500mls. Blood was eventually given to surgeons before they went into the theater with the deceased for the second surgery (Exploratory Laparotomy). However, the blood provided was not transfused before the patient was given General Anesthesia and following such volume of blood lost, the heart & lungs could not withstand the effect of the General Anesthesia, and he had a cardiac Arrest as primary Cause of Death, secondary from Hypovolemic Shock (low blood volume), and General anesthesia- induced Cardiopulmonary failure following massive intra – abdominal Hemorrhage from complications of herniorrhaphy. Herniorrhaphy is a simple procedure, and such complications are strange to it, and could only emanate from carelessness, Recklessness, Negligence and incompetence. Indeed, the death was induced and avoidable.”
“TAKE NOTICE THAT it’s our clients’ expression that they are not going to leave this issue for God. And that they have resolved to assist, by handing the same over to those created by God, and empowered to handle conflicting-issues of men- the Temple of Justice.
“TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT, unless and until our clients are pacified, we shall be constrained after 3 (three) months from the receipt of this mail, to bring this matter before the Temple of justice, wherein we will claim against:
“And, we shall be claiming amongst other reliefs, a Compensation and punitive General damages of N1,000,000,000:00 (One Billion Naira only) for the unwarranted, reckless and negligent cause of death of Dr Johnson Ezeanyanwu.
“Sir, if your office is not ready to work with discipline, they should shut-down. It will be deceptive to be giving the public, wrong impression that you are working, while you are rather by omissions or commissions causing colossal damages to the system.”
The Federal Government has intensified emergency measures to contain the possible spread of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, with plans to establish treatment and isolation centres in states hosting designated ports of entry.
The development follows an increase in the number of persons identified as contacts of Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient from 44 to 53.
The national incident management system has also been activated under the coordination of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate.
The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria after visiting Uganda, following an earlier trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
She reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on October 20.
The World Health Organisation is investigating the possible source of the infection.
Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, maintain proper hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected Ebola patients and promptly report suspected infections.
The NCDC also warned against stigmatising persons undergoing monitoring, stressing that public cooperation, early detection and effective contact tracing remain critical to preventing further transmission.
The woman who tested positive for Ebola in Nigeria has been identified as the wife of a Swiss diplomat stationed in Abuja, with preliminary investigations suggesting that she contracted the deadly virus during a recent trip to Uganda.
According to Reuters, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday that the 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman tested positive on October 20, marking Nigeria’s first confirmed Ebola case in over a decade.
The Swiss authorities disclosed that the patient had spent approximately one week receiving treatment at a private hospital in Abuja after developing symptoms before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.
The ministry explained that the woman was believed to have contracted the virus during a visit to Uganda about two weeks earlier.
Her husband, who accompanied her on the trip, has since been placed in isolation as a precautionary measure, although he has not exhibited any symptoms of the disease.
However, uncertainty remains over the actual source of the infection, as international health agencies intensify efforts to reconstruct the patient’s travel history and identify possible exposure routes.
Ugandan authorities had suggested that the woman visited eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo before travelling through Uganda, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the claim had not been independently verified.
Africa CDC official Wessam Mankoula disclosed during an online briefing that Nigerian and Ugandan health authorities were exchanging information to establish the patient’s movements.
He maintained that there was currently no validated evidence confirming that the woman travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Providing further clarification, WHO Representative in Nigeria, Pavel Ursu, said available records indicated that the patient travelled to Uganda on September 16 and returned to Abuja on October 3.
Ursu also confirmed that the woman remained hospitalised, adding that medical indicators showed signs of improvement.
Meanwhile, WHO Emergency Response Manager Patrick Otim said investigations were continuing to establish where the infection originated and identify health facilities the patient visited after developing symptoms.
The Nigerian case has been linked to an outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected persons, including deceased victims. Common symptoms include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, while severe infections can result in death.
Health authorities are currently tracing the patient’s contacts and reviewing her movements to identify individuals who may have been exposed and prevent further transmission of the virus.
The Enugu State Government says it has strengthened its disease surveillance and puts health officials on alert within the 17 council areas in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said this on Wednesday in Enugu during a press conference on Actions of the State Government in Response to Confirmed Case of Ebola in Abuja.
Ugwu said that following the confirmation of the case, the government had reactivated and strengthened the Enugu State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to coordinate preparedness, surveillance and response activities.
“Specifically, the State has intensified disease surveillance across its 17 Local Government Areas and strengthened coordination with relevant agencies and partners.
“Surveillance activities around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport are also being strengthened in collaboration with Port Health Services and other relevant stakeholders.
“The state is further maintaining its Rapid Response Teams and relevant technical personnel on standby, while preparedness measures are being reviewed to ensure that the state is able to respond promptly should a suspected case be identified.
“Public awareness and risk communication activities are also being strengthened to ensure that members of the public receive accurate and timely information,” Ugwu, who is a Member of Presidential Committee on Ebola Prevention, said.
He said that health ministry would continue to work closely with Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, its agencies and other partners to ensure effective preparedness, early detection, appropriate response and timely communication
The commissioner said that the government considers the health security of the state’s residents as a major priority and had taken appropriate precautionary measures without creating unnecessary fear or panic.
He urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, strictly observe infection prevention and control measures, use appropriate protective equipment, and promptly report any suspected case through the established channels.
According to him, the government will continue to provide the necessary support and guidance to ensure health workers safety and effective response.
“To the good people of Enugu State, I urge you to remain calm and vigilant. There is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Enugu State, and the measures being taken are precautionary.
“The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick persons, seek medical attention promptly when necessary, and report suspected sick person,” he said.
He specifically urged public and private health facilities across the state to remain on heightened alert and maintain a high index of suspicion for suspected cases, particularly among persons with relevant travel or exposure history.
“All suspected cases should be promptly isolated and immediately reported to the appropriate Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) or the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, while strict infection prevention and control measures are observed.
“I urge all health facilities to cooperate fully with the Enugu State Ministry of Health and other response agencies, as early detection and prompt notification are critical to preventing transmission,” he said.
It would be recalled that state government, through the Ministry of Health, for months had been undertaking Ebola Prevention Preparedness mesdures at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, which is an international entry point.
The current Ebola Prevention measures at the airport is undertaking with collaboration of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, airport authorities and other relevant partners.
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The Enugu State Government says there is no confirmed case of diphtheria in the state, urging residents to disapprove unfounded ongoing rumours.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, made the clarification in a briefing on Wednesday in Enugu on update on the rumoured suspected case of a diphtheria patient in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu.
“In response to this, the Public health and Surveillance unit of the State Ministry of Health are already at alert and to ensure appropriate prevention control measure and early detection as may be necessary.
“A few days ago, there was a report of suspected case of diphtheria at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu which was followed by our team.
“However, the diagnosis of diphtheria could not be sustained or confirmed; while the patient, wito was rumoured and suspected to have diphtheria,
had tonsillitis,” he said.
The commissioner noted that accordingly, contact traces and other appropriate measures are ongoing and “yet diphtheria are not diagnosed or confirmed in the state.”
He explained that the suspected patient had been traced to his home in Achara Layout in Enugu and he did not have any record of travel and had not being to the northern part of the country as rumoured.
“Our surveillance and tracing teams have also contacted his family members and others but no trace of diphtheria established,” he said.
Ugwu noted that although the state had remained on high alert against infectious diseases, “Enugu State is never at high risk of contacting diphtheria”.
“For the state, we have a robust routine and mop up vaccination especially on Penta 3, which provides effective immunisation against diphtheria for a whole life time.
“In 2026 Vaccination, we had 91 per cent record of coverage on Penta 3 vaccination, which is even above the national target or threshold,” he said.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information as well as seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms of any sickness.
He said, “The ministry is calling on parents and caregivers to ensure children are fully immunised with diphtheria containing vaccines (Penta 3).
“Residents are urged to follow the advice of health authorities during contact tracing and monitoring.
“Healthcare workers are urged to maintain appropriate standard precautions, promptly notify suspected cases through the surveillance system and ensure appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
“The Enugu State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNTH and relevant international partners, continues to monitor the situation and will be proactive for further information as necessary,” he added.
It would be recalled that there is an outbreak of diphtheria in Nigeria and 19,799 suspected cases sent to molecular laboratory test; with 15,309 confirmed cases and 517 confirmed death across 26 states and 357 Local Government Areas.
The worst affected states accounting for over 98 per cent cases of diphtheria are Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Kastin, Sokato, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Diphtheria is a serious but vaccine preventable bacterial disease that can spread though respiratory droplets and close contact.
Symptoms of Diphtheria include: fever, sore throat, difficulty or pain when swallowing, cough, difficulty breathing, swelling of the neck and greyish/white membrane in the throat.
The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, has urged patients, visitors and members of the public to remain calm following the management of a clinically suspected case of diphtheria at the hospital.
The reassurance followed concerns over the admission and subsequent death of a paediatric patient at the hospital’s Children’s Emergency Room (CHER).
According to a statement issued by the hospital management on Wednesday, the patient received medical intervention immediately after admission but died two days later despite efforts by the attending medical team.
The hospital said a subsequent clinical post-mortem review suggested that the severe symptoms may have been caused by severe pharyngotonsillitis with massive exudate, rather than diphtheria as initially suspected.
However, as a precautionary measure, UNTH said comprehensive contact tracing had commenced to identify and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with the deceased.
The hospital also confirmed that the Children’s Emergency Room had undergone standard decontamination in line with established infection prevention and control protocols.
UNTH said it had previously managed sporadic cases of diphtheria successfully and possesses the specialist personnel, isolation facilities and medical equipment required to manage infectious disease cases.
The management urged members of the public to remain vigilant for symptoms associated with diphtheria, including persistent fever, severe sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
It advised anyone experiencing such symptoms, as well as parents whose children develop them, to seek immediate medical attention at a recognised healthcare facility and avoid self-medication.
Healthcare workers, patients and visitors were also advised to maintain proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette while within the hospital premises.
The hospital management assured the public that it would continue to prioritise community safety and public health, while providing updates based on verified medical information.
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O.C.O
February 2, 2024 at 7:52 am
Parklane has been a dead zone for patients… Using student doctor to perform procedure without proper supervisions