A couple has sued St. John Hospital & Fertility Centre, blaming them for their baby’s death and requesting GH¢5 million in damages for the loss of life, sorrow, and suffering caused by their claimed activities.
In their statement of claim, the couple, Mr. Ekow Andoh and Mrs. Sandra Tekyiwaa Sackey, asked the court for a declaration that the defendant is vicariously liable for the medical negligence of its employee health workers because their negligent omission and commission caused their baby to be diagnosed with severe asphyxia, which led to the baby’s death.
They also request an order requiring the defendant to pay the costs of the action, including legal fees based on the Ghana Bar Association’s 2022 Fee Scale.
Read Also: Ghana Needs PHD 2024: Supporters of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong urges him to run for president
They claimed that the defendant knew or should have known that its health officers’ actions and inactions fell below the standard of care when its officers failed to curtail a prolonged delivery by Mrs Sackey (2nd Plaintiff) while the latter was under the defendant’s duty of care, causing the couple’s baby boy to be diagnosed with severe asphyxiation, resulting in the baby’s death.
They claimed that the defendant’s midwives denied the 2nd Plaintiff’s request for elective caesarian section (CS) at the start of the 2nd Plaintiff’s baby’s delivery, causing the 2nd Plaintiff’s delivery to be prolonged and resulting in severe asphyxiation and the death of the Plaintiffs’ baby.
The couple further claims that the defendant’s delay from decision until delivery, as well as poor care, resulted in severe asphyxiation and the death of the plaintiffs’ infant.
They claim that after being discharged from the hospital and about a week later, the 2nd Plaintiff discovered that the stitched section of her vagina generated colored discharge, giving her significant pain. Furthermore, when attempting to move or participate in any activity, the 2nd Plaintiff felt dizzy, weak, and easily tired.
According to the Plaintiffs, the Holy Care Specialist Hospital inspected the second Plaintiff and found that her sutures were not done properly since most of them were in knots and caused infection with a discharge.
The Holy Care Specialist Hospital confirmed the 2nd Plaintiff’s persistent anaemia to be 7 g/dl of haemoglobin.
They claimed that the defendant, as the owner and administrator of a WhatsApp group called “ST. JOHN’S PREGNANCY CLASS” with over 150 pregnant women on board, including the 2nd Plaintiff, circulated information on the group claiming that Korle Bu Teaching Hospital was to blame for the baby’s death and not them.
According to the Plaintiffs, the defendant deleted the second Plaintiff from the aforementioned WhatsApp group in the midst of the Plaintiff’s child’s death and other expectant women asking questions.
