Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — A devastated Lagos lawyer has sounded the alarm on maternal health care after his wife, who suffered prolonged bleeding following childbirth, died amid what he describes as inadequate medical attention and apparent lapses in clinical management. The case has reignited urgent discussions across the country about postpartum complications, hospital accountability and systemic shortcomings in obstetric care.
Mr. Justice John, a legal practitioner based in Lagos, is now spearheading calls for a formal investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of his 32-year-old wife, Mrs. Akudo Lovelyn John, who he says bled for nearly 15 hours after giving birth at a private health facility before she was eventually pronounced dead at a referral hospital. His public appeal has drawn attention to how maternal emergencies are managed in medical settings and has prompted legal and professional bodies to demand answers from authorities.
In media interviews and during a press briefing at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Mr. John recounted that his wife, who was in good health throughout her pregnancy and had received routine antenatal care, delivered a baby weighing 4.2 kilograms through spontaneous vaginal delivery at Gynescope Specialist Hospital in Lekki on December 3. Within hours after childbirth, she began to experience abnormal and continuous bleeding, he said.
According to John’s account, despite the severity of the bleeding and his wife’s worsening condition, critical interventions were delayed or insufficient at the primary facility. He claims that concerns he raised about her deteriorating state were not met with the urgency required in such obstetric emergencies and that a timely referral to a higher-level facility was not made. It was only after significant delay that she was transferred to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The husband’s petition to the Lagos State Government and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) alleges that the source of the prolonged bleeding was not adequately investigated or treated and that his wife was effectively left without timely lifesaving care during a critical period. An autopsy later at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital reportedly listed haemorrhagic shock as the cause of death.
In response to the tragedy, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, has stepped in, joining the calls for a thorough and transparent inquiry. During a press briefing held with the bereaved husband, the NBA emphasised the need for systemic review of hospital emergency response processes and adherence to established medical standards to prevent similar outcomes in the future.
Officials from Gynescope Specialist Hospital, through its proprietor, have described the incident as unfortunate but have denied allegations of negligence. They maintain that the initial delivery proceeded without immediate complications and that medical professionals did not observe heavy vaginal bleeding at the outset. Hospital representatives have acknowledged the loss but disputed claims about delays in care, noting the complexity such cases can present.
Maternal health specialists say that what the family describes is consistent with one of the most dangerous obstetric emergencies — postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). PPH, defined as excessive bleeding following childbirth, remains a leading cause of maternal mortality both in Nigeria and globally, often requiring swift clinical interventions such as uterotonic drugs to promote uterine contraction, blood transfusions and surgical management to control hemorrhage.
In Nigeria, PPH accounts for a significant proportion of maternal deaths; systemic gaps — including inconsistent availability of essential medications such as oxytocin, limited access to emergency blood supplies, and shortages of trained personnel — regularly turn otherwise preventable bleeding into fatal emergencies within hours if not promptly addressed.
Healthcare professionals and policymakers have repeatedly called for strengthened protocols, especially in private facilities, to ensure rapid recognition and management of postpartum complications. In recent months, the Federal Government has also launched updated national guidelines for the management of PPH, aimed at standardising emergency responses across facilities and reducing preventable deaths.
Maternal health advocates have welcomed these regulatory steps but underscore that implementation on the ground remains inconsistent. Studies point to barriers such as inadequate training, stockouts of lifesaving drugs and equipment, and delayed referrals as key contributors to maternal mortality in many parts of the country.
Civil society organisations and medical NGOs have highlighted the role that timely intervention can play in saving lives during childbirth. In some emergencies, rapid access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care — including surgical facilities and intensive monitoring — significantly improves outcomes when bleeding is promptly controlled.
In this case, Mr. John is seeking justice not only for his late wife but also systemic accountability. He has petitioned both the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the MDCN to review clinical conduct, facility readiness and emergency protocols. He also wants the findings of the autopsy and coroner’s inquest fully considered in determining whether standards of care were met.
The outcry has resonated with many Nigerians, particularly advocates of improved maternal healthcare, who see the case as emblematic of broader challenges facing obstetric care in the country. Nigeria continues to struggle with high maternal mortality rates, rooted in a combination of infrastructural deficiencies, gaps in clinical capacity, and uneven quality of care between public and private health sectors.
For the family of Mrs. John, the loss is deeply personal and immeasurable. Their infant — born amid what should have been a celebratory moment — now grows up without a mother. In grieving her loss, Mr. John hopes that the public scrutiny will spur stronger accountability mechanisms, better emergency care protocols, and ultimately, prevent future families from enduring similar tragedies.
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