A medical doctor practicising in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa state, Dr James Negedu, has been remanded in the Lafia prison over the death of a serving corps member in the state, Pascaline Madueke.
According to reports, Madueke, who was a Batch ‘C’ corps member that served in Adogi, Lafia East Development area of the state, was rushed to the hospital after she complained of headache, abdominal pain and malaria. She lost her life during a surgical operation carried out by Dr Negedu.
When interrogated, Dr Negedu said the deceased was brought to his hospital by her uncle, one Ndubuisi. The scan carried out on her showed she has a pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as a five-month-old dead foetus in her womb.
“After the scan was carried out, I discovered that the deceased didn’t tell me that she was pregnant. I referred her to the DASH with a note containing the details of the incident. She was operated at the gynecology and obstetrics department of the DASH and she died the following day.” he said.
The doctor, while contesting his detention, stated that he referred the corps member to another hospital because he could no longer manage her.
“The doctor that carried out the operation on her has been moving freely without any arrest and prosecution. Why should I be detained for referring her to a government hospital?”
When contacted, the Nasarawa State NYSC Coordinator, Zainab Isa, said Madueke died after a surgery, adding that she did not know the cause of her death.
“I discovered that she died three days before I was informed about her case. I got to know about the incident through the Anambra State coordinator of the scheme who said that some people came to her office in Anambra and informed her that a corps member who was serving in Nasarawa State had died on January 24th 2019.
“When I visited the hospital to see her remains, they were already decomposing. We contacted her next of kin and the mother said they wanted the body of their daughter for burial. We provided an ambulance and the body was taken to Imo State for burial” he said
When interrogated, Dr Negedu said the deceased was brought to his hospital by her uncle, one Ndubuisi. The scan carried out on her showed she has a pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as a five-month-old dead foetus in her womb.
“After the scan was carried out, I discovered that the deceased didn’t tell me that she was pregnant. I referred her to the DASH with a note containing the details of the incident. She was operated at the gynecology and obstetrics department of the DASH and she died the following day.” he said.
The doctor, while contesting his detention, stated that he referred the corps member to another hospital because he could no longer manage her.
“The doctor that carried out the operation on her has been moving freely without any arrest and prosecution. Why should I be detained for referring her to a government hospital?”
When contacted, the Nasarawa State NYSC Coordinator, Zainab Isa, said Madueke died after a surgery, adding that she did not know the cause of her death.
“I discovered that she died three days before I was informed about her case. I got to know about the incident through the Anambra State coordinator of the scheme who said that some people came to her office in Anambra and informed her that a corps member who was serving in Nasarawa State had died on January 24th 2019.
“When I visited the hospital to see her remains, they were already decomposing. We contacted her next of kin and the mother said they wanted the body of their daughter for burial. We provided an ambulance and the body was taken to Imo State for burial” he said
