A tragic incident involving the death of pre-term twins has sparked a heated disagreement between the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Sylvester, and the management of Med-Vical Medical Centre in Benin, Edo State. The grieving parents have accused the hospital of negligence, secrecy, and incompetence following the death of their babies, which they claim was mishandled by the medical staff. They have called for an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
The Sylvesters, devastated by the loss, allege that one of their twins was moved to the mortuary without their consent, further compounding their grief. The couple, feeling betrayed, said they lost all trust in the hospital and have now taken the matter to the police, requesting a full investigation.
However, Med-Vical Medical Centre, in defense of its actions, has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Dr. Enato Gertrude, the Consultant Paediatrician/Neonatologist at the hospital, stated that the twins were delivered prematurely in another hospital before being transferred to Med-Vical on the evening of July 9. She stressed that when they arrived at the centre, they were in “critical condition” with severe health complications, including neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, and perinatal asphyxia.
Dr. Gertrude further explained that despite the hospital’s immediate intervention with life-saving treatments, such as antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, and oxygen therapy, the babies’ conditions remained dire. Tragically, the first twin passed away after eight days in intensive care. The second twin’s condition worsened after three weeks, despite continuous efforts, including blood transfusions and ventilation support. The second child died soon after.
“We did everything we could,” Dr. Gertrude explained, “and kept the parents informed every step of the way. When the condition of the second twin deteriorated, we informed the parents and suggested transferring the baby to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. However, they declined.” She went on to explain that after the second twin passed away, the hospital staff tried unsuccessfully to reach the father for 12 hours before taking the body to the mortuary, noting that they had never denied the parents access to their children’s remains.
In response to the accusations of negligence, the hospital management maintains that the deaths were the result of the twins’ severe health issues, not any fault on the part of the hospital. Med-Vical Medical Centre has insisted on its commitment to transparency, patient safety, and the highest quality of care.
