A private hospital in the Ibeju/Lekki area of Lagos State has remained silent over an incident where a doctor allegedly refused to treat a pregnant woman, Kemi, due to her husband’s inability to make an upfront payment of ₦500,000.
The tragic event, first shared by her husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, in February, resurfaced on social media on Tuesday, sparking outrage.
In the heartbreaking viral video, Kemi was seen weak and barely conscious inside a car while her husband pleaded with her to stay strong. “My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong; look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me,” he said in desperation.
Folajimi later revealed that after being denied treatment at the private hospital, they were directed to a general hospital in Epe. Unfortunately, Kemi did not survive the journey and passed away before receiving care.
Denial of Treatment Sparks Online Condemnation
Folajimi expressed his grief, writing, “The doctor told me to deposit ₦500,000, 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.”
Attempts by an online media house to reach the hospital through its contact details on its website reportedly have been unsuccessful.
The incident has led to widespread condemnation, with Nigerians questioning the ethics of refusing emergency medical care over financial constraints.
Public Reaction and Calls for Reform
Social media users voiced their frustrations, with some insisting that hospitals should prioritize saving lives before demanding payment.
One Dr. Femi Yekinni, a lecturer, lamented, “This is just so sad and heartbreaking. Save a life first, then do whatever you can to recover the money later. This is the acceptable standard all over the world. The National Assembly needs to make a law to address critical issues such as this.”
Another commentator, Anthony Kene, noted, “The name of the hospital indicates it’s affiliated with a religious body. I think it should be enshrined in our laws that hospitals must not reject anyone on monetary grounds.”
However, some individuals criticized Folajimi’s decision to seek care at a private hospital instead of heading directly to a public one. Others questioned why he recorded a video instead of focusing solely on securing medical assistance.
“But why make a video in such a critical situation? May God have mercy upon us and Nigeria. I pray God consoles the husband,” one wrote on X.
Similarly, @Blueplug11 condemned the act, stating, “During an emergency, every second counts. Devoting part of the scarce available time to making a video recording for whatever reason is reckless. Too much of this occurs these days, where victims are ignored and live videos are streamed just for clout chasing.”
The tragic event has reignited debates on patient rights and the responsibilities of medical facilities in handling emergencies.
It remains a sad commentary that uptil time of this publication, no official statement has been made by relevant government authorities of the incident.
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