Family sues Butiru Chrisco hospital for professional negligence

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  Butiru Chrisco hospital in Butiru town council in Manafwa district is in trouble for alleged professional negligence.  The family of Suzan Nabifo, an expectant mother who died in May last year during delivery has together with the Centre for Health Human Right and Development-CEHURD sued the hospital at Mbale high court.  

Addressing journalists shortly after filing their application against the hospital at Mbale high court on Wednesday, Lucky Gloria, the Executive Director CEHURD said that Nabifo succumbed to intestinal complications,  according to the doctor’s report  shortly after being rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. She says that doctors at Butiru Chrisco hospital failed to successfully operate the deceased due to lack of sufficient skills, which led to Nabifo’s death.   

She also faulted the doctors at Butiru Chrisco hospital for the delayed referral of the patient to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, which contributed to her death. According to Gloria, they want the court to find the hospital guilty for professional negligence and give them appropriate punishment for recruiting less qualified staffs and give the family justice. 

Jane Kirabo, the legal representative of the family and CEHURD, says that Nabifo wouldn’t have died if she had been referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for special attention in time. She wants Butiru Chrisco hospital held responsible for neglect, which led to her death.

Nabifo’s mother, Mary Nelima revealed that they spent four days at Butiru Chrisco hospital where they pleaded with doctors to refer them to Mbale regional referral hospital for further management after the botched operation in vain. She says that they forcefully carried the deceased from Butiru Chrisco hospital to Mbale region referral hospital where doctors discovered that her small intestines and womb had been tampered with leading to her death a few hours after.  

The deceased’s husband, Morris Wenwa, says that currently, he is suffering to take care of the child left behind by his wife. He asked the court to give justice, saying his wife died due to the negligence of doctors at Chrisco hospital.   But Manafwa District Health Officer, Gideon Wamasebo has dismissed claims that doctors at Chrisco hospital are unqualified, saying they been monitoring health facilities in the district to ensure they employ qualified personnel.

The management of Butiru Chrisco hospital has not yet commented as repeated calls to their known telephone numbers went without reply.

*******

URN