A Lagos-based doctor, Dr. Ayelaje Joseph, Managing Director of Holyfill Hospital, faces accusations of removing a woman’s womb without her consent. The hospital, located in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is now at the center of this controversial incident involving Mrs. Okeafor Suzan.
Mrs. Suzan recounted her ordeal, stating she had gone to Holyfill Hospital for fibroid removal but later discovered her womb had been removed without her knowledge or approval.
Dr. Joseph, however, insists that Mrs. Suzan consented to the procedure, noting that she already had two children.
In an exclusive interview, Mrs. Suzan detailed the sequence of events that led to her distress. On February 16, 2024, she consulted with Dr. Joseph regarding a fibroid she had been managing for several years.
“We registered with Holyfill Hospital in Ikorodu on February 1, 2024, under our medical service provider, Marina HMO. I met with Dr. Joseph, a gynecologist, about removing a fibroid. He immediately suggested a hysterectomy, which I refused. Previous scans had shown it was a single fibroid causing symptoms like bleeding and pain,” Mrs. Suzan explained.
Dr. Joseph conducted an examination and prescribed medication to manage her symptoms. Despite some relief, Mrs. Suzan was determined to have the fibroid surgically removed. After obtaining the necessary approvals from her HMO, a surgery was scheduled for March 30, 2024, but was later rescheduled to March 29, 2024.
“After the surgery, I asked to see the removed fibroid, but nothing was shown to me. When I returned to the hospital about missing my periods in April and May 2024, Dr. Joseph told me casually, ‘You won’t see your period again; I removed your womb.’ I was shocked because I had never agreed to such a procedure,” Mrs. Suzan recounted.
Further investigations, including a follow-up scan, confirmed her womb had indeed been removed without her consent or knowledge. “I did not request this, nor did I sign any consent form for such a procedure,” she emphasized.
In response, Dr. Joseph claimed Mrs. Suzan had requested the womb removal to prevent further pregnancies. “She came with complaints of bleeding and low blood pressure at 19 percent. We advised her to wait until her blood pressure improved. She discussed removing her womb to avoid more pregnancies, as she already had two children,” he stated.
Suzan’s husband, George Okeafor, supported his wife’s account. “We only sought approval for fibroid removal from the HMO. At no point did we consent to a hysterectomy. The form I filled on the surgery day was for basic details, not for womb removal,” he said.
When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin advised that if the victim felt the divisional police had not handled the matter properly, she should escalate the case to the Area Command.
