A 65-year-old woman, Margaret Mowalola Akinduntire, has tragically passed away following what her family describes as gross medical negligence at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), including an alleged failure to conduct a life-saving surgery due to Ramadan and a past incident where a surgical needle was reportedly left inside her body.

The grieving family of Mrs. Akinduntire told SaharaReporters in an exclusive interview that her death was the result of over a decade of mistreatment by the state-owned medical facility, which culminated in her final days filled with pain and desperation.

Botched Surgery and a Forgotten Needle

According to her son, the nightmare began in 2013 when his mother underwent kidney surgery at LASUTH. A year later, she experienced sharp pain at the surgery site, only to discover a foreign object beneath her skin. Shockingly, further examination at the hospital revealed that a surgical needle used during the initial operation had been left inside her body.

“They reopened her while she was conscious—without administering proper anesthesia. It was a horrific experience,” her son recalled. “We were told the needle used during stitching was forgotten inside her.”

A Series of Surgeries and a Fatal Delay

Despite later undergoing a successful leg surgery, new complications arose in 2024 when Mrs. Akinduntire was diagnosed with fibroids. She was once again admitted to LASUTH, and while the fibroid was surgically removed, her son claimed the operation was poorly handled, leading to severe abdominal complications.

He explained, “The hospital admitted there was an error in stitching. This led to internal issues, and though tests ruled out cancer, we urged them to remove the buildup before it worsened.”

However, the family was informed that the surgery would be delayed until after Ramadan, allegedly due to religious observance.

“They told us surgery would be postponed because of Ramadan. We were stunned. Does a hospital stop saving lives because of fasting?”

Condition Worsens, File Goes ‘Missing’

As her condition deteriorated—her body growing weaker while her abdomen swelled—the family rushed her back to LASUTH’s emergency surgical unit. On the day of her scheduled surgery, the hospital reportedly refused to proceed, claiming her medical file had gone missing.

“My mother was critically ill. She couldn’t walk or speak. Yet they said they wouldn’t treat her without the file. How does a teaching hospital lose a dying patient’s file?”

Desperate Measures and Public Outcry

The family turned to social media, sparking a viral campaign that caught the attention of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Following online pressure, LASUTH suddenly recovered the missing file and requested the patient be brought back.

“Internal sources later told us the file was deliberately hidden because they saw her as a hopeless case. They assumed she would die and didn’t want to ‘waste time’ on her,” the son claimed.

Final Moments and Denial from Hospital Authorities

Despite returning to LASUTH, Mrs. Akinduntire died at the hospital’s surgical emergency unit—without receiving the critical surgery she needed.

“She passed on Wednesday. They hid her file and failed to act while she still had a chance,” her son said.

When reached for comments, LASUTH management denied all allegations. Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, dismissed the claims as “false and baseless.” Another official, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya, insisted the family was fully informed throughout the treatment and refuted any suggestion that surgery was refused during Ramadan.

“We performed several surgeries during Ramadan and have records to prove it,” he added.

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