Ridge vs Dr Kuto: Hospital refuses to release wife’s records to initiate cause of death investigations

There is a growing standoff between authorities at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the Director of Institute of Languages after reported negligence of the former led to the death of his wife.

In a statement signed by Dr Emmanuel Kuto and sighted by GhanaWeb, he disclosed that after a series of meetings with the hospital management, no decision had been arrived at to get him justice.

Earlier in a Facebook post, the Ghana Institute of Languages had shared how the medical officers at the Ridge hospital had contributed to the demise of his wife by prescribing wrong medications for her.

“From the conversation, it was clear that the other doctor had promptly admitted to prescribing the drug. Folks, I swear by my father’s grave that my wife’s doctor said something like this; ‘I can’t believe you have done this again. This is the second time. This woman’s case is similar to the other one but you have done it again.’”

The post which went viral on social media sparked the anger of several Ghanaians, leading to a response from the health facility.

But after meeting with authorities of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr Kuto said they had arrived at a deadlock as decisions of the officials have not been in the right direction.

“There was the need to conduct an autopsy on the body of Esther Sosuh in order to establish the cause of death.

“To make the findings of the proposed autopsy meaningful to the husband and family of the deceased, it was imperative for GARH to make available to them all relevant documents in respect of Esther Sosuh, from pre-surgery consultations to death.

“To enable the husband of the deceased, give a meaningful testimony before the investigative committee, it was imperative for GARH to make available to him all relevant documents in respect of Esther Sosuh, from pre-surgery consultations till death.

“It was agreed that Dr. Kuto should put in a formal written request to GARH to enable it release the documents to,” parts of his statement read.

After fulfilling his part of the bargain and submitting the request, he continued that; “A few hours later, GARH, through its Medical Director, informed Dr Kuto by phone that they had been advised by their lawyers not to release the documents that GARH had undertaken at the meeting. At the same time, the Medical Director wanted Dr. Kuto to sign a consent form authorising the autopsy to proceed” to which the latter declined.

Read the statement below