16/08/2024
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ$๐ฐ.๐ฑ๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
The management of John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center (JFK) has been found liable and ordered to pay US$1.5 million as general damages and US$3.1 million in special damages for a wrongful surgical operation performed on one of its patients, identified as Madam Karen Gaydou Sehkehporh of Paynesville City.
Story By: Victoria G. Wesseh
The case against Liberia's largest medical facility took place in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The management of John F. Kennedy Medical Center had pleaded not guilty during the trial.
However, the jurors in the court on October 27, 2023, stated that they found the evidence against the hospital compelling and rejected the hospital's plea.
The jurors' unanimous verdict found that the evidence presented before the court "greatly implicates" the defendant.
The jurors rejected the arguments presented by the hospital's legal team.
"We, therefore, find the defendant liable as charged," the jurors ruled.
The management of the hospital was arraigned in court in October on the grounds of damages for a wrongful surgical operation carried out on one of its patients (Karen) in 2019.
Appearing before the court, the complainant, Karen, stated that she often received medical treatment at JFK..
Karen explained that on May 24, 2019, she began experiencing heavy bleeding and visited the Snipper Hill Clinic for tests. After receiving the results, she was referred to JFK for immediate surgery.
The complainant further informed the court as a result of the need for surgery, she began visiting the JFK as of May 30, 2019.
She said that upon visiting the facility, she was introduced to Dr. Ernest Enders, a medical professional employed by and working with the hospital, who was assigned to take care of her.
According to her, the doctor requested numerous tests and informed her that he needed to perform an Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgery, during which her ovaries would be removed due to a possible ovarian cancer diagnosis.
"He carried out his tests in collaboration with Dr. Billy Johnson, a consultant at JFK, who agreed with Dr. Enders, and a date was set for the surgery," she stated.
Karen explained that she was instructed to come on June 12, 2019, to be admitted to the hospital for surgery. The surgery was performed as scheduled, and she was discharged on June 16, 2019.
She noted that during her first visit to the hospital after the surgery, she was examined by Dr. Enders, who told her that she was doing well and cleared her to return to work and engage in other activities.
The complainant asserted that, relying upon the clearance given, she returned to work. Unfortunately, she started experiencing severe pains in her belly and legs.
Karen reported her condition to JFK, but was only given medication. Her condition worsened as she could neither sleep, eat, nor drink
Explaining her ordeal further, she said that while her health condition deteriorated, the hospital neglected her. She decided to go to Fidelity Health Center, where multiple surgeries were performed on her to stop the stomach pain, remove pus from her belly, stop the bleeding, and reduce the swelling of her belly.
She mentioned that during one of the surgical operations at Fidelity Hospital, doctors were astonished to find abdominal gauze inside her body with pieces of her flesh stuck to it as a result of the abdominal gauze left in her body by JFK's doctor who had performed the previous surgery.
The complainant asserted that a communication was written to JFK'S management about the situation, but they only visited her once, expressed regret, extended an apology, and left without helping in the recovery process.
Meanwhile, on Monday, October 30, 2023, the defendant filed a motion for a new trial, requesting that the verdict be set aside because it does not support the weight of the evidence presented at trial.
What's your view, do you think the health facility gonna provide this lady the said amount?
What do you think about the health system in LIBERIA ๐ฑ๐ท?
