The Nigerian healthcare system is no stranger to stories of heartbreak and tragedy. While many individuals place their trust in medical experts, believing they will receive competent and compassionate care, there are times when that trust is deeply betrayed. For Kingsley, a young man in his 20s, his story is one of unimaginable loss and a lasting distrust of the system he once relied on.
Kingsley’s father suffered from an enlarged prostate, a condition requiring surgery to alleviate his symptoms. Kingsley and his siblings took their father to a well-known hospital in Ibadan, assured by the hospital’s reputation and the doctor’s standing as one of the best urologists in the country. They were asked to pay 2 million naira for the surgery, which they did, trusting it would be a safe and life-improving procedure.
Sadly, the reality was far from what they expected. During surgery, the doctor used faulty equipment, leading to catastrophic complications as several of the patient’s organs were damaged. Kingsley recalls the devastation: his father soon slipped into a coma and, despite their hopes, never recovered.
“A professor in UCH Ibadan killed my dad,” Kingsley said with deep sadness and anger. “He took him from UCH private suite to a private hospital where he did an enlarged prostate surgery with bad equipment. He ruptured the poor man’s kidney and liver, and after some days my dad went into a coma and eventually died. This man took about 2 million naira. It’s been a major blow to my family till date, and this is supposed to be the best urologist in Nigeria who ignored standard practices due to his love for money. May he never know peace!”
A Family’s Pain
The loss has left a lasting impact on Kingsley and his family, fueling their frustration with the healthcare system. They had trusted that the doctor would follow proper medical standards, only to have their trust shattered. To this day, Kingsley and his family remain heartbroken, disillusioned with a system they feel is plagued by neglect and driven by profit over patient care.
This tragic experience has only deepened their concerns about the Nigerian healthcare system and the pressing need for reforms. Kingsley’s story is a somber reminder of the essential role that ethical practices and standards play in healthcare and of the dire consequences when they are disregarded.
