Couple slams N360m suit against hospital over alleged negligence

A Lagos couple has filed N360m suit against a hospital over alleged negligence that resulted in the death of their baby at childbirth at the Lagos high court, Igbosere. The couple, Mr. Eyitayo Mumuney and his wife Stella Mumuney, in their writ of summon marked LD/ADR/1825/18 is asking for the sum against the hospital and its management.

The claimants alleged that the hospital, Reddington Multispecialist Hospital Limited, caused the death of their baby at birth for their failure to provide adequate facilities during the delivery.

They stated: “ It took over four hours from the time the baby was brought out of the second claimant for the defendants to take the baby to another hospital, Paelon Medical. And within the four hours of waiting, the baby was left unattended by the defendants.”

The claimants also indicated that prior to filing the action, a letter stating the pains suffered by the couple as a result of the loss of their baby was sent to the hospital with the hope that they would politely apologize but they never did.

“By a letter dated February 16, 2018 the claimants through their counsel, DNL Partners, wrote to the defendants identifying measures that may be put in place by the defendants to correct the wrong they had caused the claimants. The defendants ignored the claimants’ letter,” they stated.

Therefore, the claimants felt that the defendants had breached their duty to the claimants and are praying the court for an order directing the defendants to build a centre to be named: Axella Eyitayo Center for Reproductive and Baby Care.

The couple is also asking for the sum of N1.20 million for general damages and another sum of N120 million as compensation for aggravated damages for the loss of their baby.The claimants are also asking the court to grant them another N120 million as being exemplary damages as a result of the death of the baby at childbirth.However, the matter, which has not been fixed for hearing, has been screened for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure.