Lawyer Petitions MDCN Over Wife’s Death During Childbirth

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Justice John, has petitioned the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) demanding a thorough investigation into the death of his wife, Mrs. Akudo John, who died following complications from childbirth at Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki, due to alleged medical negligence.

According to John, his wife, who had no underlying medical conditions, was receiving antenatal care at Gynescope Specialist Hospital before going into labour on December 3, 2025. He said concerns raised during antenatal visits about the large size of the baby and the possibility of an elective Caesarean Section were dismissed by the attending consultant, Dr. Joseph Yahaya, who reportedly insisted on a spontaneous vaginal delivery.

John stated that his wife delivered a baby weighing 4.2 kilogrammes after an episiotomy was performed. He alleged that shortly after delivery, the consultant left the labour ward and the repair of the episiotomy was carried out by a subordinate. He said his wife later complained of a dripping sensation, after which the consultant observed unusual vulval swelling and tight sutures and proceeded to re-suture the wound.

He further alleged that following the second procedure, his wife became pale and unconscious for several hours while bleeding continued. Despite the consultant confirming that she was bleeding internally, John claimed that no immediate referral was made to a higher-level facility and that blood transfusion was carried out without first identifying and repairing the source of the bleeding.

The lawyer said there was a delay of about 15 hours between the delivery of the baby and his wife’s eventual death.

“My wife complained of a dripping sensation inside her body. After observation, the Consultant noted that the vulva was unusually swollen and the sutures were too tight. The Consultant re-sutured her. After this second procedure, my wife looked lifeless, pale, and unconscious for hours, while the bleeding continued unabated,” he said in a statement.

“The Consultant confirmed she was bleeding internally yet took no active steps in referring or seeking specialist help outside the primary facility. There was a clear 15-hour window between the delivery of our baby and my wife’s eventual passing. Blood transfusion was done without first identifying and repairing the source of bleeding.”

He alleged that at about 3:00 a.m. on December 4, his wife began convulsing, noting that no medical personnel were initially present in the ward and that there was no oxygen supply available. He said his request for an urgent transfer to another hospital was initially declined before being granted minutes later.

John also raised concerns over what he described as a chaotic evacuation process, alleging that his wife fell from an unsecured stretcher while being moved from the third floor of the hospital. He further claimed that the hospital ambulance was not on standby, lacked immediate access due to missing keys, and required battery connection before it could be used.

He said the ambulance later appeared disoriented en route to Lagos Island and had to be redirected to the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (LIMH), where his wife was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to him, Gynescope Specialist Hospital subsequently issued a death certificate citing cardiac arrest as the cause of death. However, an autopsy conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) as part of a coroner’s inquest reportedly established haemorrhagic shock as the actual cause of death.

John said he has written to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Health Service Commission, and other relevant authorities, in addition to his petition to the MDCN, calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death and for appropriate sanctions or criminal prosecution where necessary.

“I have written to the Lagos State Government through the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission. I have also petitioned the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), calling for a thorough investigation into the events of 3rd–4th December 2025 at Gynescope Specialist Hospital, and the circumstances under which my wife painfully lost her life. Where applicable, appropriate sanctions and/or criminal prosecution be undertaken,” he added.

Reacting to the allegations, management of Gynescope Specialist Hospital dismissed claims of negligence, describing reports circulating on social and traditional media as misleading and incomplete.

In a statement, the hospital extended condolences to John, his family, and loved ones, noting that the loss of a loved one is profoundly painful and deserving of compassion and sensitivity.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. We share in their sorrow as they mourn the loss of a wife, mother, and loved one,” the statement said.

The hospital explained that its initial silence was deliberate, intended to respect the memory of the deceased and allow the family space to grieve. However, it said the continued spread of inaccurate narratives made it necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding the medical care provided.

According to management, Mrs. John was attended to by qualified and experienced medical professionals who acted promptly in line with established medical standards and protocols.

“All reasonable and available medical interventions were employed in a sustained effort to preserve her life,” the hospital said, adding that extraordinary measures, including voluntary blood donations by compatible members of the medical and management team present at the time, were undertaken.

Gynescope Specialist Hospital stressed that allegations of negligence or unprofessional conduct do not reflect the true situation and risk unfairly damaging the reputation of medical practitioners who acted in good faith and with diligence.

“We state unequivocally that certain statements currently in the public domain are misleading and do not present a fair or accurate account of the events surrounding this non-obstetric mortality,” the statement said.

The management reaffirmed its commitment to ethical medical practice, patient-centred care, and accountability, noting that the hospital remains fully cooperative with regulatory and statutory authorities, including professional bodies, as investigations continue.