Alarm over medical negligence and hospital safety in Nigeria

An increasing number of medical cases is prompting Nigerians to question the safety of the country's hospitals.

Across the country, some families have reported alleged medical errors and negligence, including cases involving surgical gauze left inside a gunshot patient and a toddler reported missing after a routine procedure. In some instances, treatment has been followed by long-term consequences.

Legal experts say the complexity of proving negligence means many victims struggle to find justice, leaving patients feeling powerless within a system they are expected to trust.

A life altered by a routine procedure

For Alice Chidiebere, a mother of twins, a medical procedure changed the course of her life.

Married in 2014, she looked forward to welcoming her first child the following year. But six months into her pregnancy, complications led to the loss of the baby. Doctors scheduled her for a uterine evacuation procedure — a common medical intervention.

She says what happened next left her unable to conceive again.

"I still remember when I went for that evacuation," Chidiebere recalls. "The doctor handed the procedure to a student doctor who asked to try. I believe that was when the damage happened. After that, I couldn't menstruate again, and I couldn't conceive."

Years of medical tests and repeated procedures followed, including multiple hysteroscopies and fertility investigations. Eventually, her family turned to surrogacy — a decision that came with heavy financial and emotional costs.

"It drained us financially, physically, emotionally," she says. "It affected my mental health and everything around me."

A wider pattern of patient harm

Patient safety advocates say Chidiebere's experience reflects a broader concern within Nigeria's healthcare system — cases where preventable errors allegedly result in lasting harm.

Experts point to systemic pressures inside hospitals, including weak supervision, staff fatigue, and inconsistent adherence to medical protocols.

Clinical governance specialist Obinna Anyawun says breakdowns often occur behind the scenes.

"There should be clear protocols everyone follows routinely so safety becomes automatic," he explains. "Fatigue is another factor. Surgeons sometimes perform 10 or 15 operations a day. Without systems regulating workload and monitoring performance, mistakes can happen."

He adds that hospitals rarely conduct structured post-operation reviews, which could help identify risks before they escalate into serious incidents.

"When teams sit down to review what went right and what nearly went wrong, they create systems that prevent bigger failures," he says.

The legal hurdle

When medical outcomes go wrong, seeking accountability can prove just as difficult as recovery itself.

Legal experts say families often face long court delays, expensive litigation, and strict evidentiary requirements that discourage many from pursuing claims.

Medical law specialist Nekabari Annah says not every mistake qualifies as negligence under the law.

"Medical negligence is the outright disregard for established procedures," he explains. "To prove it, you must show duty of care, breach of that duty, and injury resulting from that breach. It is not enough to say a doctor caused harm — you must provide strong evidence."

According to Annah, many disputes are ultimately resolved through out-of-court settlements. While disciplinary mechanisms exist under the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, concerns remain about funding, enforcement, and the speed of investigations.

Calls for reforms

Pressure is mounting for reforms aimed at improving patient safety, strengthening oversight, and ensuring victims receive fair compensation.

Nigeria's federal government has recently established a National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety; a move experts describe as a positive step. However, healthcare advocates warn that policy changes alone may not be enough.

From shattered dreams to prolonged battles for accountability, many families believe the country's healthcare system stands at a critical turning point.

Without stronger regulation, better funding, and a culture of transparency, they say, patients may continue to bear the ultimate cost.

(Edited by CGTN Africa's reporter Halligan Agade)