“I Did Not Consent to Womb Removal” – Woman Accuses Lagos Doctor

A Lagos doctor, Dr. Ayelaje Joseph, Managing Director of Holyfill Hospital, has been accused of removing a woman’s womb without her consent. The incident occurred at the hospital located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The woman, Mrs. Okeafor Suzan, claims she visited the hospital to have a fibroid removed, only to later discover that her womb had been removed without her knowledge or permission.

However, Dr. Joseph has refuted these claims, stating that Mrs. Suzan gave her consent for the procedure, noting that she had already had two children.

In an interview, the distressed mother recounted her ordeal, which began on February 16, 2024, when she consulted Dr. Joseph at Holyfill Hospital.

“We registered with Holyfill Hospital in Ikorodu on February 1, 2024, under our medical service provider, Marina HMO. That same month, I had an appointment with Dr. Joseph, a gynecologist, about a fibroid I had been managing for a few years. He immediately suggested removing my womb. I refused, explaining that it was a single fibroid and previous scans advised against removal because it was symptomatic, causing bleeding and pain,” Mrs. Suzan explained.

Mrs. Suzan stated that Dr. Joseph examined her and prescribed medication to alleviate her symptoms, which provided some relief. She then agreed to have the fibroid removed, and Dr. Joseph promised to seek approval from her HMO for the surgery. After an additional scan confirmed a single fibroid, the surgery was scheduled for March 30, 2024, but was later rescheduled to March 29, 2024.

“After the surgery, I asked to see the removed fibroid, but nothing was shown to me. I returned to the hospital to complain about the absence of my monthly period for April and May 2024. The doctor casually informed me, ‘You won’t see your period again, I removed your womb.’ I was shocked and asked why. He claimed it was what we had agreed upon, but that was untrue,” she said.

Mrs. Suzan further revealed that she was shown a bucket containing human parts, with the doctor claiming one of them was her fibroid. A subsequent scan confirmed that her womb had indeed been removed without her consent, and without any pre- or post-counseling.

“I did not request the removal of my womb, and I did not sign any consent form,” Mrs. Suzan asserted.