…Commend Office of Public Defender
The Chief Medical Director, CMD, of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Prof. Kayode Olabanji said that an alleged case of ‘missing placenta’ against the Teaching Hospital has been resolved amicably.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs of EKSUTH, Rolake Adewumi noted that the alleged case of ‘missing placenta’ was brought against the Teaching Hospital by a father of twins, Mr Ojo Olaoluwa at the Public Defender Office.
The CMD commended the office of the Public Defender, Ekiti Mediation led by Bolanle Wale-Awe for doing a good job at resolving the issues amicably.
He explained that the “missing placenta” in question was not missing but was disposed according to the extant medical practice in all Hospitals in case the father or a direct relative of the baby is not around to take the placenta immediately.
The Consultant in charge of the patient, Dr Idowu Adeojo pointed out that, the unbooked patient was brought to the Hospital after the delivery of one baby at home, but unable to bring out the placenta, saying she was thereafter taken to a Basic Health Center, from where she was referred to EKSUTH, adding that, It was in the Teaching Hospital that it was discovered the problem was not just that of placenta, but a retained second twin.
According to him, efforts were made by all the medical personnel in the Maternity Department to ensure that the second baby was delivered successfully and as well saved the life of the mother, hence both the mother and the twin children are alive.
The Consultant said further that throughout this period, the father of the twins was unavailable until after 24 hours of the delivery of the baby, stressing that the Hospital could not keep the placenta any longer because of the dangers inherent in biological wastes, and putrefaction already setting in, saying it was therefore disposed accordingly.
The father of the babies, Mr. Ojo also said it is true he was not around but it was their neighbour that brought his wife to the Hospital.
He added that when he asked of the placenta the second day, he was told it has been disposed off when he was not around, but he insisted that he wanted the placenta for fear of the safety of the babies.
The statement reads further that “efforts were made by the officers of the Public Defender to authenticate the claim of the Hospital Management on the disposition of placenta from an independent Medical Doctor outside Ekiti State and the Physician affirmed it.
“At the end, the Head of the Public Defender, Barrister Wale-Awe was able to resolve the issues peacefully and both parties were satisfied and very happy at the end of the resolution.”
