Lagos Lawyer Writes Hospital Over Professional Misconduct, Clinical Negligence Of A Client, Demands N30m Compensation
A Lagos based lawyer, Udoka Ejilibe, has written a pre- litigation letter to Medical Director of the Medison Specialist Women’s Hospital to pay thirty million naira only ( N30,000,000.00) in compensation incurred for professional misconduct and clinical negligence of his client , Mrs Aderinsola Elohor Patrick while on admission at the Medical facility in Lekki.
Detailing the allegations in a letter made available to the newsmen at the weekend, Barrister Ejilibe said the treatment meted out to his client fell short of acceptable standards in clinical practice.
According to the lawyer, the hospital has seven days to pay the thirty million compensation failure, which would lead to the commencement of writ and petition to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
The letter read: “We act as solicitors to Mrs Aderinsola Elohor Patrick (hereinafter referred to as “our Client”) and have her instruction to write you regarding the above subject matter.
“On the 01/09/2025, our client upon presentation to your hospital to receive treatment, following her complaints of persistent tiredness, hormonal imbalance, and fatigue was requested by your hospital to undergo blood transfusion and trans-vaginal scan in your hospital after giving full assurances of your professional healthcare team’s skill, and capability, to give her full treatment, proceeded to carry out a blood count test on her.
” The test result allegedly revealed that her blood count was 6%, which was considered too low. Her treatment doctor on duty suggested that any blood count below 6% is considered dangerously low and that she needed immediate blood transfusion.
“After bargaining on the cost of treatment totalling Four Hundred and One Thousand Naira (N401,000.00), she was informed that she needed four pints of blood, with each blood bag costing Seventy Five Thousand Naira (N75,000.00) which was paid before the commencement of the blood transfusion.
“The hospital also assured her that the four blood bags already paid for was in the hospital’s blood bank, which was later found out to be false.
“On Saturday, the 6th of September, 2025, our client returned to the hospital for the commencement of blood transfusion on her. The first pint of blood was transfused the same Saturday, and she suffered some reaction.
“On the commencement of the 2nd blood transfusion on Sunday the 7th September, 2025, two minutes into the transfusion, she had severe reactions, and the transfusion was stopped while the hospital put her on drip throughout that day causing her blood pressure to dip so low and dropped to 64/30.
“Every effort by her husband who was with her throughout the period and who demanded answers as what caused her reactions and possible solution to make the reaction stop, which the doctor on duty or the nurses refused to provide.
“Alarmed at the development the treating doctor on duty at the period – Dr. Ayotunde Ogundana placed calls to the senior doctor that same Sunday. It was not until about 6.00 am. on Monday the 8th of September, 2025, that the Senior Doctor arrived at the hospital and proceeded to see our client.
“Obviously overwhelmed by the procedure administered on her and without any attempt to stabilize her, the Senior Doctor directed that she be referred to another hospital, and she was subsequently taken to Evercare Hospital at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
“Following private investigation, it was established that our client’s reaction to the blood transfusion was caused by response to incompatible blood or components in the blood product and also fluid overload.
“On Sunday night during the second stage of blood transfusion, our client’s husband, who was with her throughout the ordeal, observed that out of the 4 bags of blood paid for, only two was procured. He demanded for answers and was told by the hospital staff that the remaining two bags would be sourced from outside, further validating that the second pint of blood given to her may have been mislabeled as the hospital claimed that another patient was undergoing blood transfusion at the same period.
“It was also established that the blood transfused on our client was incompatible with her blood type and having been placed on drip throughout Sunday, the 7th September, 2025, it was obvious that she could not handle the volume of fluid, hence the fluid overload and consequent reaction. Too much fluid was given too quickly to her, thereby overwhelming her heart and lungs. While the patient was going through these reactions, the treating doctor and the healthcare team did nothing to stop the reaction even though they suspected reactions from her.
“The hospital or the treating doctor refused to report the reaction to the place the donor blood was sourced from, neither did they stop the transfusion on Saturday the 6th September, 2025, nor activate any emergency procedure as required of professionals.
“Flowing from the above circumstances, our client is conceived that incorrect blood was given to her.
What happened in your hospital regarding the treatment of our client is a clear case of clinical negligence. As a healthcare provider, your hospital deviated from the accepted standard of care, thereby causing serious harm to our client.
“The level of skill professed by your hospital staff before the admission of our client was totally absent, so also the attention and diligence expected from a competent healthcare provider under similar circumstances.
“We, therefore, respectfully request our client medical records and detailed records of her treatment.
“Furthermore, on our client’s behalf, we demand monetary compensation in the sum of N30,000,000.00 to cover her medical expenses, incurred in your facility and further expenses at Evercare Hospital, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
“We demand that this compensation be paid within 7 working days from the date of receipt of this letter, failing which we will carry out our client’s firm instructions to take out a writ against your hospital and petition the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for professional misconduct,” the letter added.
Efforts to reach Dr Ayotunde Ogundana of Medison Specialist Women’s Hospital, the primary doctor who was treating Mrs Elohor Patrick before her referral to Evercare Hospital Lekki was unsuccessful as at the time of filling this report.
