LASUTH Releases Detained Corpse After Slashing Medical Bill
The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja has finally released the detained corpse of Late Fatima Olamide.
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The deceased was released after the medical social welfare Unit of the hospital met with the bereaved.
Wellness Health obtained from PUNCH that the body would be released on Tuesday.
This online health news platform reports that Olamide died in LASUTH on Monday. She died after battling a terminal illness.
Olamide’s family said they had spent about N1 million; however, her body was seized at the morgue.
According to a statement by the hospital, the deceased was detained over an outstanding bill of N860,000. The family, however, said they had raised N200,000.
When the hospital was quizzed about a concession, the LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo directed them to MSWU.
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In a statement released by the hospital’s Public Affairs Officer, Olutayo Irantiola, the MD reiterated this point.
The statement read: “We sympathise greatly with the family of the deceased who had a serious illness. May the good Lord give them the fortitude to bear the loss. We need to inform the family as well as the general public that all fees in LASUTH, as well as other state hospitals, are collected by an agency appointed by the state government.
“No medical director has the authority to waive any hospital fees incurred by either the living or the dead. The family should have used the existing hospital avenues through the Medical Social Welfare Unit to upscale its challenge instead of running to the press, thereby scandalising the hospital for no just cause.”
Shamsusideen Sbobowale, the father of the detained corpse said the matter had been resolved.
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He revealed this while speaking with PUNCH HealthWise correspondent. Shobowale said the body would be released on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
He said, “Some family members went to the welfare unit today (Monday) and they gave us a huge discount.
“We eventually paid N300,000 out of N860,000 and they said we could come for the corpse tomorrow (Tuesday). We are grateful for the intervention.”
