A 26-year-old woman who went for a caesarean section at the Brong Ahafo regional hospital in Sunyani is furious at the medical team that took the operation for tactless act that nearly cost her life and has left her barren because the team left an operation towel in her abdomen.
Ms. Ernestina Adade Konadu went through the ordeal two years ago when she went to the hospital to deliver.
Consequently, the woman, whose first attempt resulted in this disastrous manner, is demanding GH?150,000 as compensation from the hospital.
The botched caesarean section, in the process of which Ms. Konadu lost her baby after which she went home with another complication, took place on October 7, 2010.
Ms. Konadu endured severe abdominal pains for over a year before diagnosis at a different health facility, also in Sunyani, revealed that the pain she had been experiencing were the result of an object lodged in her abdomen.
A subsequent operation to remove the object revealed an operation towel which had been left in her abdomen after the caesarean section a year earlier.
According to her medical report, the operation to remove the towel rendered the victim barren, meaning that she could no longer conceive and bear children.
Moreover, her medical condition has so deteriorated that she can no longer engage in any hard work.
After investigations into the matter, the authorities of the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital confirmed and recognised the incidence of negligence on the part of the medical team but said the hospital was not in a position to pay compensation to Ms. Konadu.
Ms. Konadu has, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Health, all relevant statutory bodies and the coalition of non-governmental organisations on human rights issues to step in to ensure that the right thing is done to save other patients from suffering similar fate.
According to her, the Brong Ahafo Rgional Chief State Attorney, Madam Afia Serwaa, who is also counsel for the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital, had warned her to back down on her demand or she (Madam Serwaa) would go public with Ms. Konadu's medical condition.
Ms. Konadu said she had dared she state attorney “to go ahead” and that she was not scared since the incident bordered on fundamental human rights.
According to her, her lawyer was still negotiating with the hospital authorities for a reasonable compensation for her.
She said initially the hospital refused to show interest in the case, even in the face of compelling evidence against it.
She said a letter had been written to the hospital management to remind it of the pending case but it had not produced any positive response.
The victim said when a third letter also did not yield any feedback, she was compelled to go to court, only for the hospital to step in with a GHC10,000 compensation package which she declined.
Ms. Konadu said the latest medical report on her confirmed that she would not be able to deliver again as a result of the alleged negligence.
She alleged that the Brong Ahafo Chief State Attorney had stood against the payment of compensation to her.
The victim's mother, Madam Comfort Dapaah Amanfo, who accompanied Ms. Konadu to the Graphic Office in Sunyani, expressed concern over the unprofessional conduct of the hospital authorities and the treatment her daughter was receiving at their hands.
When the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Jacob Abrebrese, was contacted, he declined to comment on the matter and urged the reporter to go ahead and publish the story.
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