Lagos State govt begins investigation into Doctor’s death in hospital elevator

The Lagos State Government says it has commenced investigation into the turn out of events that led to the death of a medical Doctor, Vwaere Diaso at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island on Tuesday.

The State Government made this known in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olumide Sogunle on Wednesday.

Sogunle disclosed that while the government was shocked by the news, it had set up a panel of inquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident and promised to sanction anyone found culpable. The statement read:

“An inquiry by a team of officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Lagos State Safety Commission, and certified Lift and Vertical Transportation Equipment experts has commenced.

“The Lagos State Government will ensure that anyone found negligent by the report of the inquiry will face appropriate sanctions.”

Dr. Diaso was on housemanship at the General Hospital in Lagos where she died barely two weeks to the end of her attachment. She reportedly died after one of the elevators at the hospital crashed while she was in it.

According to reports, Diaso was on her way to get her food from a dispatch rider when the incident happened.

She was afterwards, rushed to the emergency ward of the hospital but she was eventually confirmed dead.

Her death has since thrown both staff and patients at the hospital into pandemonium as her colleagues express their grievances in a protest.

On Wednesday, the medical practioners reportedly refused to attend to patients as they shut the hospital’s main gate.

The doctors also shut the health service commission’s gate and the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital’s gate while accusing the hospital management of negligence.

“We report every time. The elevator is supposed to carry 630kg maximum, that’s eight people. Once you open the elevator and see two people already, you just have to wait for the next batch. It was faulty and they knew about it. That’s why we’re not going to take this. She was a very diligent house officer. She was very hardworking,” one of the protesting doctors said.

The doctors also carried placards that bore various inscriptions such as “I don’t want to die,” “Doctors’ lives matter,” “Justice for Vwaere,” “The system failed you, Diaso,” and “Here is Vwaere Diaso, she didn’t have to die for us to get it right.”

Commenting, a patient who spoke to newsmen said, “I was at the hospital around 7 am. Nobody attended to us. Her colleagues began the protest around 9 am, moving around the hospital and paralysing activities. Other medical workers at the hospital also downed tools.”

The Nigeria Medical Association has also reacted to the incident via a statement by the state Chairman, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, and Secretary, Ismail Ajibowo directing all doctors working in the three government hospitals on Lagos Island to commence an indefinite strike. The statement read in part:

“We direct all our doctors in the three government hospitals on the island to commence indefinite strike action until the investigations are completed and justice is served; we immediately direct our doctors in all the other government hospitals to scale down activities as a mark of respect for our dead colleague. Only emergency services should be rendered for the next five days.”

On his part, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also commiserated with the deceased’s family.

Sanwo-Olu via a Statement on X said, “In light of this tragedy, I have taken immediate action to initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure.”