There is an ongoing controversy over the death of a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr Hestianna Thomas, who was said to have been beaten to death by her husband who is a Consultant Clinical Pathologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
It will be recalled that on October 15, the LUTH, Idi Araba, was allegedly thrown into mourning following the death of the surgeon who was believed to be a victim of domestic violence, as she was reportedly rushed to the hospital badly battered.
The Nation earlier reported that according to a source, close examination of her body revealed a lot of lacerations.
The source said, “In fact, I noticed that the head had a deep cut. When other colleagues also saw her, they said there was a deep cut on her skull, because they saw pierced bone.
However, the controversy over the death of Dr. Hestianna has continued unabated. Some reports say the mother of two was battered to death by her husband while some say she allegedly committed suicide. According to reports, the deceased who is a surgeon in LUTH said the deceased had a history of depression.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The victim came in a pool of blood with a nylon bag over her head, face smashed in, chest and arms fractured. Husband told us she had a history of depression and suicidal attempts. I heard that she jumped off the second floor. I spoke with her unit members, it seems it’s confirmed that it’s a suicide, the family reached out in support to the husband and confirmed the previous history of depression and won’t be taking anything up.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Branch of the National Medical Association, NMA, has condemned media reports linking the death of the deceased to the husband.
The NMA through its Public Relations Officer, PRO, Dr Ibrahim Ogunbi, wondered why some journalists should carry stories of such sensitive matters without proper investigations.
Ogunbi said, “The rumours are too much but we do not believe them. We are investigating the cause of the death to ascertain if the allegation by some people that the husband killed the wife was true or not. We are neutral until the autopsy report is made.”
“The reason we could not believe the allegation leveled against the husband was due to our findings during the association’s visit to the home of the deceased,” the PRO noted.
“When we visited the home of the decease on Friday, we saw her mother who also lives in the house, and during our interaction with her, she said that the report making the rounds that her in-law killed the daughter worries her; it has further inflicted pains on her, and that those making such allegations are adding to her pains,” Ogunbi added.
The Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, LUTH branch, Dr. Emeka Ogbolu, speaking on the incident, said it was a sad event. He described the deceased as a very hardworking consultant, who seemed indefatigable.
Ogbolu who said he refrained from posting anything, noted that it would have been premature to do so, Vanguard reports.
According to him, “I was appalled at how some people jumped to conclusions that it was homicide without investigating or asking questions. I also had to refrain because it is really painful being that I saw her on Tuesday and therefore it came as a shock.
“I just came from their home where I went to pay a condolence visit and what I saw was a pained and angry mother. Her mother, after I introduced myself, pleaded that we do not abandon her son-in-law who is a son to her. While weeping, she asked why someone will be so insensitive and wicked to her as a mother and conclude that her son-in-law killed her daughter.
“She cursed those that started it because she said they have only added to her pain which is already unbearable. She said she is a principal officer in a university and has some background in psychology and she knows the telltale signs of domestic violence. She visits often and would not have hesitated to forcefully drag her daughter out of the marriage had that been the case.
“She would have known from her interaction with their children. She said those who started this have stung her where it hurts because she does not joke with her children. She said she broke down when she saw the newspaper that carried the story.
“I saw a mother pained. I think it was genuine. I promised her I would pass on her message as much as I can and that is all I have done.” the chairman stressed.
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