Good Samaritan Alleges Negligence After Crash Victim Dies in Lagos Hospital
Good Samaritan Alleges Negligence After Crash Victim Dies in Lagos Hospital
A road accident in Gbagada, Lagos, has sparked controversy after a Good Samaritan accused a government hospital of negligence in the treatment of victims.
Falade Ahmed Olawale said he was returning home on Saturday night, August 16, when he encountered a crowd near Oworonshoki. While many motorists drove past, he stopped and discovered victims of a crash involving a commercial minibus and a Mercedes car.
Olawale told reporters he called the Lagos emergency number but no help came after 40 minutes. He said he then used his car to transport five of the seven victims to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Burns and Trauma Centre in Gbagada. One victim, he noted, was so badly injured that he placed her in his car boot to save time.
According to him, hospital staff initially claimed there was no bed space. He alleged he was asked to pay for treatment and eventually spent about ₦200,000 on drugs. “I delayed attending to my mother, who was just discharged from LUTH, but I couldn’t leave those victims. Sadly, one of them, a young lady, died the next day because she did not get blood on time. Nigeria failed her,” he said.
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His claims, however, were strongly refuted by LASUTH management. The hospital’s Director of Clinical Services, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya, insisted no money was demanded before treatment. He confirmed that five victims were admitted, four of whom remain stable, while the deceased sustained severe injuries that could not be reversed.
“This hospital has managed emergencies since it was established in 1954 as Cottage Hospital before becoming a teaching hospital in 2001. We don’t charge for accident cases. No one detained Mr. Olawale, and no doctor refused treatment. The allegation of negligence is unfair,” Adekoya said.
He added that LASUTH provides emergency care, including complex surgeries, without requiring upfront payment, in line with federal directives. He urged Lagos residents to show empathy in emergencies rather than abandoning victims on the road.
The incident has reignited public debate over Nigeria’s emergency response system, with many questionings why an ambulance failed to arrive despite distress calls.
Content Credit: Moyosola Oni
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