A distraught mother, Caroline Abiodun, has accused doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, of negligence, which led to the paralysis of her 27-year-old daughter, Mofeyintoluwa Abiodun.
Mofeyintoluwa, a graduate of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology from the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, was allegedly misdiagnosed by the hospital.
Caroline said she took her daughter to the hospital for malaria treatment, alleging that the doctors gave her the wrong treatment that worsened her health.
Narrating her ordeal to Saturday PUNCH, Abiodun lamented that the hospital destroyed her daughter’s life.
“In January 2021, my daughter came down with malaria and typhoid fever and I took her for treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. Before going to the hospital, we had already done a malaria and typhoid test which came out positive.
“When we got to the hospital, we were directed to one Dr Lukmon Ogunjimi who attended to us. He prescribed some drugs and asked us to do an MRI scan.
“Three days later, my daughter’s condition became worse. After using the drugs, she became weak and had rashes all over her body. We took the result of the scan to the doctor and he told us that there was nothing wrong with her brain. We complained about her condition and he prescribed another set of drugs, including topiramate.
“Things took a worse turn after this as my daughter started shaking involuntarily. Since then, my daughter has been paralysed while she is also battling with constant head tremors. We later found out that the drugs prescribed by the doctor were for the treatment of epilepsy.
“What was supposed to be a simple treatment turned into a nightmare. My daughter was vibrant and healthy, but now she is paralysed and unable to care for herself.”
The 72-year-old retiree lamented that her family had incurred enormous medical expenses, leaving them emotionally and financially drained.
She added that despite the involvement of the state Ministry of Justice and human rights organisations, the hospital refused to take responsibility for the deteriorating condition of her daughter.
“My daughter cannot walk without assistance; she can’t do anything. Her dreams have been cut short; she has to be carried everywhere and the hospital management even threatened us for reporting them to the Ministry of Justice. All I want is for them to restore my daughter’s health,” Abiodun said.
When contacted, the hospital’s Head of Public Relations and Communication, Segun Orisajo, said the hospital could not be blamed for the predicament of Mofeyintoluwa.
Orisajo said, “There was neither a case of misdiagnosis nor wrong prescribing.”