Posted on: Tue 30-06-2020

The attention of the Management of Federal Medical Centre Idi-Aba Abeokuta, has been drawn to a news story published on the Centre Spread of Sunday Punch edition of 28th June, 2020 and it's online healthwise where one Mr. Babajide Olayemi wrongly accused the Centre of mismanagement of his daughter, Mrs. Josephine Odufowora. 

For clarity purposes and in order to set the records straight, the Management of the Centre hereby states as follows: Mrs. Odufowora Josephine, 26 years old pregnant lady was referred to our Centre on the 13th of June, 2020 at 10:10pm with complaint of abdominal pain and anterior neck swelling. She had features of a hyper functioning thyroid.

The patient had a history of anterior neck swelling in the preceeding 2 years with medications meant to suppress the hyper-functioning thyroid. However, drug use had not been regular and she did not receive pre-conception care and baseline thyroid profiling prior to this her pregnancy. When she presented with the complaints, she was promptly attended to by a multi-disciplinary medical team as expected of a tertiary hospital like ours. After her review, she was educated as regards the diagnosis, management plan, prognosis and complications that may arise in the context of her complaints and the background medical condition. It is pertinent to state that while receiving care in hospital on the 16th of June, 2020, she and her family took responsibility to discharge her against medical advice despite being fully aware of the possible implications as she was adequately counseled.

It should also be noted that her condition was stabilizing on medications while awaiting further investigations. Then she left the hospital in a relatively stable condition. We empathise wilts the family for the loss and pray that God will repose her soul and grant the family the fortitude to bear the great loss. It is however, necessary to state that thyroid disease in pregnancy carries a far-reaching implication both on the mother and the unborn child. It is therefore important that preconception, antenatal and close post delivery care and follow-up be done by the appropriate specialists and these should be the minimum to be done to prevent the possible complications that could arise; miscarriage, poor fetal growth, stillborn, congenital defects, failure to thrive of the born child, thyroid disease in the child among many others. High grade fever, rising heartbeat, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, liver failure and sudden cardiac death may complicate the condition in the mother.

These and many more are some of the manifestations of thyroid disease in general but worse in pregnancy more so, in twin pregnancy. All these complications are well known and established, hence she was managed by a multi disciplinary medical team who chose a conservative approach. It is likely that patient died from one of the complications mentioned above at the private hospital where she subsequently went. It is unfortunate that she discharged herself against Medical advice for reasons best known to the family. Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta as a hospital of repute is ever ready to take on patients' care at all times with professionalism and high ethical consideration. 

Signed 

Management.

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