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The Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada Branch has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau and Medical and Dental Practitioners Counsel of Nigeria over the unprofessional role played by Dr. Jide Kudehimbu in the untimely death of Miss Mercy Uzonwanne.

In a petition signed by the Chairman and secretary of the branch, Isah Abubakar Aliyu and Akachukwu Nwoye respectively, the branch decried the role of Dr. Jide Kudehinbu by diverting a registered patient of NAF hospital to his private hospital.

Part of the the Petition reads “The Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada Branch humbly wishes to bring to your notice a case of professional misconduct against Dr. Jide Kudehinbu of Airforce Base Hospital (NAF Hospital) along Nnamdi Azikiwe International Air Port Road, Abuja  pursuant to sections 15 and 16 of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act. We wish to inform you of the following facts;

“Sometime in 2020, late Uzonwanne Chidinma Mercy developed an illness and was rushed to the NAF Hospital at Airport Road, FCT-Abuja for medical attention. The NAF Hospital diagnosed her to have fibroid and advised her to prepare for surgical procedure. However, Dr. Jide Kudehinbu, a Medical Practitioner and Staff of the NAF Hospital who was part of the medical team looking into the case advised her to come to his private hospital called Medmore Hospital Clinic, Lugbe, FCT-Abuja for the surgical procedure. He further represented to her that since he was the leader of the medical team that would carry out the surgery, she should think of going to his private hospital for the procedure.

“The surgical operation was performed on her by Dr. Jide Kudehinbu in his Medmore Hospital Clinic, Lugbe, FCT-Abuja on the 13^th of December, 2020 and thereafter she was discharged. Her situation deteriorated after 3 days of surgery. She was readmitted to Dr. Jide Kudehinbu’s Medmore Hospital Clinic, Lugbe, FCT-Abuja.

“On the 6^th of January, 2021, following the worsening situation of her health, she was rushed to the NAF Hospital where she was initially taken to, for further investigation.

“At the NAF Hospital, the management of the Hospital initially rejected her on the ground that she was not supposed to have gone to a private Hospital after consulting them. However, the NAF Hospital later changed its mind after a lot of persuasion for the corrective surgery.

“Despite her corrective surgery, her condition did not improve and she eventually relapsed into a coma. At this stage, the NAF Hospital referred her to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada-Abuja on the 21^st of January 2021 where she died on the 22^nd of January 2021 without coming out of coma.

“An autopsy was performed on her by the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. The result obtained indicates that the deceased’s health was negligently and unprofessionally managed by Dr. Jide Kudehinbu as evidenced in the cause of death as reported in the autopsy viz: severe cerebral oedema, overwhelming sepsis, colonic perforation, renal inforation.

“The autopsy result reveals that she had a breakdown of the surgical wound with purulent discharge which necessitated another surgical intervention at the NAF Hospital.

“In view of the above facts, we humbly urge you to use your good offices in line with your Medical and Dental Practitioners Act to investigate this matter’ the petition reads. (Barristerng)