The management of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, has once again refuted allegations of negligence or wrongdoing in the case involving a 12-year-old boy’s missing intestines. In an official statement released on Saturday via social media, they clarified their stance on the matter.
Deborah Abiodun, the boy’s mother, had raised concerns about her son’s missing small intestines, alleging that the incident occurred while he was receiving treatment at the hospital. She had urgently appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her son’s intestines, following a corrective surgery performed on July 14, 2023.
The hospital management, however, categorically denied any involvement in the disappearance of the boy’s organs. They emphasized that the hospital boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a team of highly knowledgeable, skilled, and professional medical consultants, making it highly unlikely for such medical errors to occur.
Their statement clarified, “Once again, the hospital management needs to clarify issues on the insinuations being made by a mother in a viral video that the alleged loss of her son’s intestines after surgery is a matter between a private hospital and LASUTH. Our hospital is an excellent tertiary institution with highly knowledgeable and skilled medical consultants.”
The management pointed out that the patient had been referred to their hospital after undergoing two surgeries in a private medical facility. They stated that during the corrective surgery at their facility, certain unusual findings were discovered, and the mother was duly informed about these findings. They even have video evidence of the surgery to provide further clarity.
Furthermore, the hospital noted that they had conducted a thorough investigation into the case and have a comprehensive report of their findings. They maintained that the corrective surgery was performed without any intentional removal of organs or structures from the patient’s body.
In conclusion, the hospital expressed empathy for the patient’s family and suggested that financial assistance might be appropriate. However, they discouraged the use of social media as a platform for what they perceived as a form of blackmail against the state government. They affirmed their cooperation with the state agency already investigating the matter, demonstrating their commitment to resolving this unfortunate incident.