The Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MDPCN) says it has found a prima facie case of professional misconduct against three doctors of Premier Specialist Hospital, Victoria Island, with respect to the death of Peju Ugboma, the late Lagos chef.
In the letter seen by TheCable Lifestyle, the medical council also disclosed that it has concluded its investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of the popular pastry chef.
At the 10th session of its investigation panel for the case on October 28, the MDCPN said it established a case of professional misconduct against the deceased by the three doctors involved.
The medical practitioners are Akiseku Adeniyi Kazeem, Kelechi Kingsley Renner, and Motunrayo Amadu.
In the letter signed by E. D. Abudu, the council’s secretary, it was said that the three doctors have been referred to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (MDPDT) for trial.
OBSERVERS TIMES
Recall that the family of Peju Ugboma, a Lagos State-based chef, had accused Premier Specialist Medical Centre, Victoria Island, of negligence after Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, carried out an independent autopsy and revealed that she suffered internal bleeding.
It was learnt that she had about two litres of blood in her abdomen and pelvic area after an elective surgery for a fibroid issue.
The family stated that she walked into the hospital by herself unaided as it was by no means an emergency surgical procedure, adding that she had concluded all the necessary tests required before the surgery, including ECG, PCV, and COVID-19 tests.
It said Peju had complained of abdominal pain after the surgery, and despite advice from a UK gynecologist that she might be bleeding internally, doctors at Premier reportedly refused to take any actions to that effect and did little as her condition deteriorated between Friday and Sunday afternoon when she eventually died.
However at the inquiry organized by the Federal Competition and Protection Commission (FCCPC) when Dr. Osinomo Omolole, from Premier Hospital, was called upon, a lawyer, Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), showed up to say he was absent.
She said the Doctor had traveled abroad, noting that he had requested to appear virtually but his request was turned down.
Akeredolu also stated that other doctors of Premier hospital were initially present at the public hearing, but they received a message from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) that they should leave the sitting, otherwise they would lose their licences.
Reacting, Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, vowed that if the Doctor refused to appear at the inquiry, the commission would stretch to any length in ensuring that justice is done.
In furtherance of this, the investigative panel was set up by the council after a petition by Ijoma Ugboma, the husband of the deceased.
The Lagos state police command had earlier invited officials of the health facilities for “a fact-finding inquiry” over Ugboma’s death.
Ugboma, aged 41, died on April 23 after her surgery at the hospital located in Victoria Island.
Her family had alleged that she died due to the negligence of health officials at the hospital, where she had undergone surgery for fibroid but later suffered internal bleeding.
The hospital had earlier declined to respond to media enquiries on the issue, citing doctor-patient confidentiality.
