In a recent development, the Lagos Assembly’s ad-hoc committee, chaired by Hon. Noheem Adams, has revealed that the doctor who performed two surgeries on Adebola Akin-Bright, the young boy who tragically lost his small intestine, lacks the qualifications to practice as a surgeon.
This revelation came to light during a session in the Assembly, where Hon. Adams shared his findings with his colleagues. The shocking news prompted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to direct the Clerk, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to draft a letter to the State police command requesting the immediate arrest of Dr. Abayomi Baiyewu, the doctor in question, who practices at Obitoks Hospital in the Alimosho area of Lagos.
Adebola Akin-Bright, the young patient at the center of this tragic incident, sadly passed away shortly after the Lagos Assembly called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide further assistance in seeking medical treatment abroad.
During the session, Speaker Obasa expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support during the time when Adebola was under treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). He also instructed that the House convey its condolences to the bereaved family.
Speaker Obasa urged the committee to delve into various aspects of this distressing incident, including inviting officials from the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), the body responsible for monitoring private hospitals in the state. Additionally, the Speaker suggested that the existing legislation be reviewed to determine whether amendments are needed, emphasizing the importance of private hospitals regularly reporting their activities to the government.
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Announcing Adebola’s tragic demise, Hon. Adams expressed his deep sorrow over the case, revealing that the committee had recently visited the young boy, who was still able to communicate with lawmakers at the time.
During the investigation, it was uncovered that Dr. Baiyewu, who had performed two surgeries on Adebola, was not qualified as a surgeon but relied solely on his experience as a medical doctor. Furthermore, Baiyewu admitted that he did not conduct any medical examination before the initial surgery and instead relied on a report from a different hospital where the patient had previously sought treatment.
After the first surgery, Adebola continued to experience abdominal pain and returned to Obitoks Hospital, where Dr. Baiyewu performed a second surgery himself. Subsequently, the boy’s condition worsened, leading to his transfer to LASUTH, where medical experts confirmed the absence of part of his intestine.
Hon. Noheem Adams noted that, as a medical professional, Dr. Baiyewu should have sent the excised body part for pathological examination, but Baiyewu informed the committee that the body parts were inadvertently discarded. The doctor had even planned a third surgery before Adebola was eventually taken to LASUTH.
Following Hon. Adams’s revelation, the Assembly expressed its condolences to the grieving family, with Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda calling for the immediate closure of Obitoks Hospital. Another committee member, Hon. Lawal Aina, described the heartbreaking sight they encountered during their visit to Adebola in the hospital. He emphasized that Dr. Baiyewu had proven not to be a certified surgeon.
In response to this disturbing incident, some lawmakers suggested filing a formal complaint against Dr. Baiyewu with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for appropriate action. Others advocated for stricter monitoring of medical practitioners and healthcare facilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.