The Bauchi State High Court has awarded N10.2 million in damages against the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, over the death of a pregnant woman, Zaliha Yahaya Muhammad, following what the court found to be medical negligence.
Justice Kunaza N. Hamidu of High Court No. 2 delivered the judgment on Monday in favour of the claimant, Adamu Yusuf Misau, the deceased’s husband, who instituted the suit after his wife died in August 2020.
According to the claimant, Zaliha was initially taken to a primary healthcare centre in Bauchi metropolis before being referred to ATBUTH for specialised treatment due to pregnancy-related complications.
Counsel for the claimant, Auwal Ibrahim, told the court that doctors at the hospital carried out surgery on the deceased but later informed the family that the surgical wound had not been stitched before referring her to another hospital, allegedly because medical equipment at ATBUTH had developed faults.
As part of the evidence, the claimant presented a handwritten referral note and argued that the deceased was left unattended for several hours despite her critical condition.
The defence, represented by D.E. Kaswe, contended that delays in payment contributed to the patient’s death. However, the court rejected the argument after evidence showed that the claimant had paid N14,000 in cash.
In his judgment, Justice Hamidu held that the hospital was responsible for the wrongful death of the deceased as a result of medical and professional negligence during the course of her treatment.
The court awarded N10 million in general damages,
