Surgical error: How my wife passed away after doctors allegedly left scissors in her stomach – Husband
A Kano-based resident, Abubakar Muhammad, whose wife Aishatu Umar passed away at Abubakar Imam Urology Centre following complications arising from the surgical procedure, speaks on what happened as he accuses the hospital of medical negligence.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Muhammad alleged that his wife, a mother of five, passed away in the early hours of Monday, about four months after doctors at the state-owned hospital in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State allegedly forgot a pair of surgical scissors inside her abdomen during an operation.
According to Muhammad, Aishatu fell ill several months ago and underwent surgery at the hospital in September. He said shortly after the procedure, she began experiencing severe and persistent abdominal pain.
Hospital prescribe painkillers for stomach pain
Despite repeatedly returning to the hospital to report her condition, he claimed she was only given pain-relief medication without further medical investigation.
“Each time she went back to complain, they only prescribed painkillers. They kept telling her the pain was normal for patients who had undergone surgery, but they never recommended an X-ray or any form of scan,” he said.
He explained that her health continued to deteriorate over the following months. It was only days before her death, after medical tests and scans were conducted at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, that doctors allegedly discovered a pair of surgical scissors left inside her body during the earlier operation.
Muhammad said plans were being made for a corrective surgery to remove the object, but his wife died before the procedure could be carried out. He described the incident as gross medical negligence, stating that it had caused his family deep pain and raised serious concerns about professional standards in the healthcare system.
“While we acknowledge that death is inevitable, we cannot understand how such an error could occur during a surgical procedure. Incidents like this undermine public confidence in medical professionals and health institutions,” Muhammad said.
Bereaved husband calls for investigation, justice
The grieving husband called on the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.
In response, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the allegation. The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, confirmed on Tuesday that the probe would focus on establishing the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Board assured the public that patient safety remains a top priority and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of healthcare delivery across Kano State.
