Angry family members beat up nurse over patient’s death

A staff nurse at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, was on Monday beaten up by family members of a female patient (name not given) who died in the hospital following a health complication.

It was learnt that the nurse was beaten by children and relatives of the deceased who were at the hospital when the woman died.

The patient, who was diagnosed with a terminal liver illness, died few days after she was admitted at the hospital.

Eyewitnesses said that the enraged relatives held the hands of the nurse back while she was being beaten.

An official of the hospital said, “To us, this was not a reprimand by the relatives of the patient but a clear case of an attempt to kill an officer of the state.

“We are used to verbal attacks and other forms through which patients’ relatives react to the death of their loved ones but this is different.

“The intention was to kill the staff on duty and that is worrisome.”

Acting Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, said, “The patient was suffering from a terminal liver illness. She had been kept at a faith-based home for months before she was brought to the hospital when they saw that her condition deteriorated.

“At the ward, all the medication due to the patient was served by the nurse. The family failed to conduct the tests prescribed by the doctors; they even failed to buy the prescribed drugs for the patient.

“While the nurse on duty was waiting, the patient’s condition deteriorated and the nurse gave her the necessary injection. The relatives claimed that the injection given by the nurse caused her death. That was why they transferred their emotion on the nurse.

“Two of the deceased’s daughters attacked our staff, held her hands and tried to choke her.

The acting CMD said a security man on duty was also attacked and injured, “We have since reported the case to the police. We petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, on the matter. We have called for autopsy to determine the actual cause of the patient’s death to clear all doubts,” he said.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Victor Babayemi (ASP), said, “We have received the report and investigation is being carried out on the matter”.