NATION

Lagos hospital seizes corpse of mother of three over debt

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, has held on to a corpse over unpaid medical debts incurred during admission. The corpse is that of a mother of three, identified as Fatimo Olamide.

PUNCH reports that Olamide had accumulated a bill of over N860,000 before her death in the hospital.

Olamide Fatimo

Prior to her death, Olamide was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for a terminal illness. She reportedly underwent a surgery but died on Monday, February 14.

The late Olamide’s father, Shamusideen Shobowale, 64, said the family had spent about N1m on Olamide’s treatment. The retiree said the family had raised N200,000 out of the N860,000 being demanded.

He added that the family’s inability to retrieve the corpse was why the deceased could not be buried on the day she passed away, in line with Islamic rites.

He urged help from the state government and public-spirited Nigerians, so he can bury his dead.

“My daughter was admitted at LASUTH early this month and she underwent a surgery. We spent about N1m on her treatment but she later died. We are appealing for solidarity so that she can be buried. She is survived by husband and three children.

“Our hospital bill is N860,000. The family contributed and we could only raise N200,000. I don’t have any means to pay the bill and the hospital is insisting that we should look for the money. I retired about two years ago but till now I have not got my entitlement,” the report quoted Shobowale as saying.

The report also said LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, was asked for a comment on the matter. Responding, Fabamwo, allegedly said, “The Medical Social Work Unit takes care of cases like this.”

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