A grieving husband has accused Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki, of medical negligence following the death of his newly wedded wife shortly after childbirth, raising fresh concerns about maternal care standards in private health facilities.
According to the account, the woman had received her antenatal care at the hospital without any known underlying health issues. During her third trimester, doctors reportedly noted that the baby was considerably large. The family said they expressed concerns and discussed safer delivery options, including an elective Caesarean Section, but were advised against it and encouraged to proceed with spontaneous vaginal delivery.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the woman went into labour and delivered a baby weighing 4.2kg after an episiotomy was performed. Shortly after delivery, the consultant in charge reportedly left the labour ward, while the stitching was completed by a subordinate officer.
The husband alleged that complications began almost immediately, as his wife complained of an unusual dripping sensation. He said the consultant later observed abnormal swelling and overly tight sutures, prompting a second procedure. Despite this, her condition reportedly worsened, with continuous bleeding, loss of consciousness and extreme pallor lasting for several hours.
The doctor allegedly confirmed that the patient was bleeding internally but did not initiate a referral or seek specialist intervention outside the facility. A blood transfusion was reportedly administered without first identifying or repairing the source of the bleeding. The family claims there was a 15-hour window between the delivery of the baby and the woman’s eventual death.
In the early hours of Thursday, December 4, 2025, the woman reportedly began convulsing. Her husband said there were no medical personnel present at the time, and help only arrived after he raised alarm. He further alleged that there was no oxygen available in the ward.
When he requested an immediate transfer to another hospital, he said the consultant initially declined, stating that no facility would accept a patient without a pulse, before later agreeing to the evacuation.
The husband described the evacuation process as chaotic and deeply distressing. He alleged that a stretcher without safety guards was used, causing his wife to fall onto the tiled floor during movement from the third floor. He also claimed there was confusion among staff over whether to use the stairs or elevator, leading to further delays.
At the hospital entrance, the ambulance was reportedly parked far from the building, covered and unprepared. The husband claimed the ambulance keys were not readily available and that the vehicle’s battery had to be connected before departure. Throughout this period, he said his wife lay exposed on a stretcher without oxygen.
The ambulance eventually departed for Lagos Island, but reportedly stopped twice en route and appeared to lose direction. The woman was eventually taken to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
While Gynescope Specialist Hospital later issued a death certificate citing cardiac arrest, the husband disclosed that an autopsy conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), as part of a coroner’s inquest, listed the cause of death as hemorrhagic shock, contradicting the hospital’s initial claim.
The widower said he has formally written to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Health Service Commission, and petitioned the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), calling for a thorough investigation into the events surrounding his wife’s death and appropriate sanctions where necessary.
“I demand accountability,” he stated, adding that he is seeking justice not only for his late wife but to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The case has sparked renewed conversations online about maternal mortality, emergency preparedness, and accountability within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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