Ridge Hospital accused of negligence following death of 18-year-old

A father whose 18-year old son died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 4, 2014 is accusing hospital officials of negligence.

Joshua Amartey told Joy News he rushed his son Benjamin Amartey to the hospital at dawn on October 3, when he complained of a stomach ache but the doctor on duty turned them away because he was tired.

He told Joy News' Kwetey Nartey, the doctor whose name is withheld, did not even give his son any first aid, except to ask them to go and return later in the day, by which time another doctor would have reported to work.

Mr Nartey said he took his son back home but had to return to the hospital when the boy's situation got worse.

He suspected a case of food poisoning.
He said his son was then admitted to the surgical ward of the hospital but left unattended to for over nine hours.

He died the following day, Mr Nartey said in grief, adding, the son would not have died if the hospital authorities had taken interest in caring for him.

When Joy News contacted the Head of the hospital, Emmanuel Obeng said he is unaware of any such incident but advised the family of the deceased to petition the hospital and an investigation would be conducted.

A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity told Joy News the case of medical negligence is becoming rampant in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Mr Nartey said he has no money to seek legal action against the hospital.