COOUTH: Pregnant woman died from kidney disorder, not catarrh

The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Anambra State, has dismissed reports that a pregnant woman, Mrs Amarachi Uche-Chukwudokwe, died at the facility from cold and catarrh.

The hospital said the woman, who died on March 26, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder that causes excessive protein loss through urine and widespread body swelling.

The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Agbai, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka on Saturday in response to claims circulating on social media about the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

Agbai said hospital records showed that the deceased was brought to COOUTH after receiving treatment at a private hospital for generalised body swelling and difficulty breathing.

She said subsequent investigations at the teaching hospital revealed severe anaemia, with a Packed Cell Volume of 20 per cent, as well as significant protein and blood in her urine.

The patient was also found to have pleural effusion, a condition involving an abnormal accumulation of fluid around the lungs.

“Based on these clinical findings and investigations, a diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome was made,” Agbai said.

She explained that nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder characterised by excessive protein in the urine, reduced blood protein levels and swelling of the body, resulting from damage to the kidney’s filtering blood vessels.

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The hospital urged members of the public to stop circulating what it described as unverified accounts concerning the woman’s death, warning that such reports could create unnecessary anxiety and damage the reputation of healthcare professionals and institutions.

COOUTH said it remained committed to ethical and evidence-based medical practice, as well as providing quality healthcare in line with professional standards.

The hospital also reaffirmed its commitment to patient confidentiality, saying the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death should be considered in light of her documented medical condition and the treatment provided at the facility.

Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of COOUTH, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu, disclosed that the deceased and her husband had initially declined medical advice to terminate the pregnancy in an effort to save her life.

According to Umeakuewulu, by the time the couple eventually accepted the recommendation, the patient’s condition had deteriorated significantly.

She said the medical team made efforts to save her but was unsuccessful.

The hospital’s clarification comes amid growing public discussion over the circumstances of the woman’s death and calls for greater transparency and accountability in handling cases involving pregnant patients.