MONROVIA – Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has announced an investigation into allegations of medical malpractice at ELWA Hospital after a woman claimed she was left in critical condition following a cesarean section. The case, which has generated public concern over maternal healthcare in Liberia, involves Jamesetta Kugmeh, who took to social media on March 15 to detail her harrowing experience.
According to Kugmeh, what was supposed to be a routine delivery turned into a life-threatening ordeal, resulting in severe complications, including kidney failure, liver damage, and the removal of her womb. She also alleged that she suffered burns on her legs and back, underwent eight dialysis sessions without urinating, and experienced a collapsed urethra. Kugmeh claims that ELWA Hospital delayed transferring her to another facility despite her deteriorating condition. By the time she was moved to John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), she said her health had worsened significantly. Now, she is appealing for urgent medical treatment abroad, fearing for her life.
In response, LMDC Chairperson Dr. Benetta Collins-Andrews acknowledged the gravity of the situation in a statement posted on her Facebook page on March 16. While expressing sympathy for Kugmeh, Dr. Collins-Andrews emphasized that the LMDC must follow due process before reaching any conclusions. She explained that medical malpractice investigations require thorough expert assessments, including consultations with specialists in obstetrics, nephrology, and radiology.
She also pointed out that such investigations can take days, weeks, or even months, depending on their complexity and the availability of funding. “Determining that an operating room doesn’t have the right equipment could take only an hour, whereas investigating claims of clinical malpractice could take weeks to months,” Dr. Collins-Andrews noted.
She further stressed that the LMDC relies on external medical consultants to review cases, and their work requires financial resources. “These consultants don’t work for LMDC. They are usually called in on a case-by-case basis and require sitting fees for working for sometimes up to six hours a day,” she explained, adding that logistics for evidence gathering and inviting claimants also require funding.
Dr. Collins-Andrews assured the public that the LMDC is committed to fulfilling its regulatory duties but called on the government to allocate adequate funding to ensure the timely and effective resolution of medical malpractice cases.
