Questions over patient safety and medical accountability have come to the fore in Gombe State after the family of Mrs. Barira Alhassan accused the **Gombe State Specialist Hospital** of failing to explain how she allegedly lost a kidney following a Caesarean section, even as the hospital firmly denies carrying out any procedure involving the organ.
The controversy has drawn public attention not only because of the woman’s allegation but also over claims by her family that her medical records could not be produced when they sought clarification, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
Barira, a mother of 10, said she underwent an emergency Caesarean section at the hospital on April 8, 2026, after which she developed persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, body swelling and painful urination.
Speaking in an interview with the **BBC** Pidgin service, she said subsequent medical examinations allegedly revealed that she had only one kidney—a finding she said came as a shock because she had never undergone surgery before the C-section.
Her brother, Zakaria Alhassan, said the family became alarmed after reviewing what they described as a 2015 medical scan indicating that Barira had two kidneys before the operation.
He alleged that repeated attempts to obtain a clear explanation from the hospital proved unsuccessful and claimed the family was informed that Barira’s medical records could not be located.
The family has since petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health, demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the surgery and the alleged disappearance of the medical records.
According to Zakaria, ministry officials later invited the family and hospital representatives to a meeting, where both parties were advised to allow the investigation to proceed before making further public statements.
Responding, the hospital rejected the allegations, insisting that Barira underwent only an emergency Caesarean section and that no surgical procedure involving her kidneys was carried out.
The management said theatre records support its position and disclosed that it launched an internal review immediately after the complaint was received.
It added that it had met twice with Barira and her relatives to explain its findings and had approved the family’s request for an independent medical examination, the outcome of which is still being awaited.
While expressing concern over what it described as misinformation capable of eroding public confidence in healthcare services, the hospital said it remains willing to cooperate fully with any lawful investigation.
As the Ministry of Health’s investigation continues, the case has intensified calls for greater transparency in the handling of medical complaints and stronger mechanisms to build public trust in the healthcare system.
