An 11-year-old boy, Nelson George, has taken legal action against Limi Children’s Hospital Limited, claiming N100 million in damages due to an alleged misdiagnosis and mistreatment resulting in the damage of one of his testes.
Young Nelson, represented by his father, Bankole George, has also requested Justice Akanbi Yusuf of FCT High Court, Kubwa, to order the hospital to pay N5 million as the cost of filing the suit.
According to the suit filed on Aug. 28 by his lawyer, Emmanuel Ekpenyong of Fred-Young & Evans LP, Nelson is seeking an apology from the medical facility for the alleged misconduct.
Additionally, the young claimant has implicated the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Investigation Panel, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as the 2nd to 4th defendants in the case.
Nelson has urged the court to compel the 2nd to 4th defendants to be more proactive in fulfilling their duties to protect and promote his interests and wellbeing, as well as those of the Nigerian public.
In the joint statement of claim, Nelson, described as an 11-year-old student in Junior Secondary School 3, detailed the sequence of events leading to the lawsuit.
His father, Bankole George, a Grade Level 18, Step 11 Director of Dangote Cement Plc, and a subscriber of the Platinum package of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS AXA MANSARD), sought medical treatment for Nelson’s serious abdominal pains and swollen genital and scrotum on 30th January, 2023.
The statement continued, recounting Nelson’s admission to Limi Children’s Hospital Limited for treatment, including laboratory tests and a scan on his genitals. The scan report indicated Epididymo-orchitis/Torsion, for which he was treated and subsequently discharged on 2nd February, 2023.
However, the claimant experienced discomfort in his genitals and abdominal pains again on the evening of 9th February, 2023, prompting his readmission to the hospital. After being treated for malaria, sepsis, and peptic ulcer disease, he was discharged on 11th February, 2023.
Despite the subsequent complications, it wasn’t until 13th February, 2023, that Nelson underwent a scan at Nisa Premier Hospital Abuja, which revealed Testicular Torsion (“TT”). He subsequently underwent surgery, during which it was discovered that the delay in treatment by Limi Children’s Hospital Limited had resulted in irreversible damage to one of his testes.
The hospital has denied any wrongdoing, claiming adherence to medical protocols. In response, Nelson’s lawyer petitioned relevant bodies, namely, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Investigation Panel, without a satisfactory outcome. Subsequent complaints to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also went unanswered.
Nelson contends that the hospital neglected its duty to provide an accurate diagnosis, ultimately resulting in the irreversible damage to his testes.
As the defendants are yet to respond to the court summons, Justice Yusuf has scheduled the hearing for December 20.
NAN