A private hospital in the Ibeju/Lekki area of Lagos State has remained silent following allegations that one of its doctors refused to treat a pregnant woman, identified as Kemi, because her husband was unable to make an upfront payment of N500,000.
The tragic incident was first revealed by the woman’s husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, in February but resurfaced on social media on Tuesday, sparking widespread outrage.
According to reports, the hospital, located in the Lekki area of the state, allegedly denied emergency medical care to Kemi without the deposit.
A viral video captured the heartbreaking moment when Kemi, visibly weak, was seen inside a car with her husband, who was desperately trying to keep her conscious.
Calling her name repeatedly, he pleaded, “My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong; look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me.”
Folajimi later revealed in a post that after being turned away by the private hospital, they were referred to a general hospital in Epe, but his wife did not survive the journey.
Expressing his pain, he wrote, “The doctor told me to deposit N500,000, and I begged him to start doing whatever was needed to save my wife while I ran around for the money, but they drove us out like they didn’t care.
“Unfortunately, they blindly rejected us and asked me to take her to the General Hospital at Epe, even though the doctor knew that Epe from Lakwe is way too far for her condition. Before we rushed her to Epe, she was gone.”
The incident has reignited discussions about holding hospitals accountable for such cases, emphasising that saving lives should take priority over financial considerations.
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