The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has launched an internal investigation following allegations that a woman died due to medical negligence at its Renal Centre.
The incident came to light after Ibrahim Katagum shared a post on Facebook accusing hospital staff of abandoning his mother during a dialysis procedure, which allegedly resulted in her death.
According to Katagum's account, a nurse left his mother unattended while she was still connected to a dialysis machine. During this time, a critical tube reportedly became dislodged, causing the patient's blood to spill onto the floor.
"I found the nurse outside chatting while our mother was left tied to the blood filter. Her blood drained onto the floor after the tube detached," Katagum wrote in Hausa on his social media account.
He further claimed that doctors at the facility expressed shock at the sudden death, given the circumstances under which the patient had been left.
Responding to these serious allegations, ATBUTH's Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Usman Koli, confirmed that the hospital has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
"We are committed to getting to the root of the matter and will take every necessary step to address any failings and ensure this never happens again," Koli stated in an official response posted on Facebook.
While expressing condolences to the bereaved family, the hospital spokesperson also advised the public to utilize official channels for lodging complaints rather than relying solely on social media platforms, which he suggested might not always provide complete or accurate information.
This incident has raised concerns about patient care standards at the teaching hospital, which serves as a major healthcare facility in Bauchi State. The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine whether disciplinary action will be taken against any staff members found culpable in the alleged negligence.
Healthcare advocates have called for improved monitoring systems and stricter adherence to protocols during critical procedures such as dialysis to prevent similar incidents in the future.
