Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-01 08:29:10
A local hospital in Kisumu County was recently ordered to pay a woman Ksh2.5 million for violating her rights during childbirth. The judgment, delivered at the Kisumu Court by Justice Joel Ngugi, highlighted that the prosecution had successfully proven that the woman had suffered grievous harm at the hands of the hospital’s nurses.
The woman, who was admitted to the public health facility for childbirth, had already exceeded her due date at the time of admission. As per the government’s policy, she was entitled to free maternity healthcare services. However, she claimed that the hospital fell short of meeting her expectations.
The doctor at the facility recommended induced labor for the woman, but due to limited bed space, she was forced to share a bed with another patient. The situation worsened as she eventually had to give birth on the hospital floor in the corridor. The nurses allegedly failed to properly monitor her progress after inducing labor, and even when she sought help, she was neglected.
The court documents revealed that the woman endured verbal insults and physical assault from two nurses after giving birth on the floor. They even forced her to carry her placenta and walk to the delivery room while she was still in a state of confusion and half-consciousness.
Phone recordings presented in court corroborated the woman’s claims of mistreatment. In response, the hospital cited budgetary constraints but denied the allegations of mistreatment. They maintained that the Nursing Council of Kenya had cleared the accused nurses of any wrongdoing.
The hospital argued that the woman had been discharged without raising any complaints, casting doubt on her claims of assault. They also pointed out that she had signed a statement acknowledging satisfactory services before leaving the hospital.
After reviewing the evidence, Justice Joel Ngugi ruled in favor of the woman, stating that the hospital had indeed violated her rights. He ordered the hospital to issue a formal apology to the patient within 15 days, as well as compensating her for the harm she had suffered.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding patients’ rights and providing quality healthcare services. It also highlights the need for accountability and transparency in healthcare institutions to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring. Let this be a lesson for all healthcare providers to prioritize patient care and respect their dignity during vulnerable moments like childbirth.
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