Monrovia – Days after the appointment of Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah as Health Minister designate, a family claiming that she’s a culpable for the death of their relative are protesting her nomination.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, [email protected]
Larry Fahnbulleh, widower of the late Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh, who is leading the family protest, is urging President George Weah to withdraw Dr. Jallah’s appointment.
“We are hurt, deeply frustrated over the nomination of Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah as Minister of Health Republic of Liberia,” said Mr. Fahnbulleh at a press conference on Wednesday, February 7 in Monrovia.
Dr. Jallah is an experienced practicing general physician in obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Health Minister-designate is currently facing a lawsuit for the ‘wrongful death’ of the late Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh, who died at her private hospital – Hope for Women International Incorporated hospital – during childbirth on December 8, 2016.
The Fahnbulleh family then filed a US$6 million action of damages for wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital with 6th Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The Fahnbullehs are now furious and dishearten that while the case is not yet adjudicated the accused has been nominated as Minister of Health by President George Weah.
How Pastor Fahnbulleh Died
Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh was advised by Dr. Jallah to do a bi-lateral tubal litigation to prevent another pregnancy, which was done at the hospital, according to the complaint filed by the family with the Court.
She, however, got pregnant a year later but refused to abort based on her religious beliefs, the complainant disclosed to the court.
On November 24, 2016, Mrs. Fahnbulleh went to the hospital for a regular check-up but was advised by Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, the head doctor at the facility that the C-section was scheduled for December 18, 2016, but the ultrasound expected time for delivery was January 2, 2017.
Dr. Jallah traveled on December 8, leaving Dr. Lorraine Cooper in charge of the hospital.
Prior to her scheduled delivery date, Mrs. Fahnbulleh made a regular visit to the hospital, but was advised upon examination by Dr. Cooper that she needed an emergency surgery the same day.
Her Husband, Larry Fahnbulleh, said prior to his arrival at the hospital that day, his wife was already sent to the surgery room.
He said he didn’t consent neither his wife consented to the surgery as the space for signature on the consent form was empty.
He says the hospital asked him to sign before seeing his new born and wife, which he did and the baby was given to him, but wasn’t given the opportunity to see his wife.
And was later informed via a phone call that his wife had expired, he said.
The Law Suit
In August 2016, the family filed a lawsuit for wrongful death against the hospital represented by its medical director Dr. Jallah and one of its doctors, Dr. Lorraine Cooper.
The family argued that Dr. Jallah who had assured the late Fahnbulleh that she would have safely delivered in the country after the deceased sought advice to travel out of the country.
They claimed Dr. Jallah exhibited sheer negligence that caused the death of their relative.
In Dr. Jallah’s response to the lawsuit, she said the deceased was tested positive 22 months after the tubal ligation procedure, dismissing the claim that the deceased got pregnant a year after her tubal ligation.
She denied persuading the deceased from giving birth abroad as stated by her husband in count 4 of the complaint, and also denied making promises to the deceased and husband that she will solely do the surgery as claimed by him.
The hospital also rejected that the husband was compelled to sign the surgery consent form.
She insisted that the hospital was not negligible in the performance of its professional duties to the patient and therefore cannot be held responsible for wrongful death.
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) in its 2017 investigative report held Women of Hope Hospital International liable for the ‘wrongful death’.
“It is our opinion that a case of failed bilateral tubal litigation, high-risk pregnancy, and absence of specialist care ultimately led to the death of Mrs. Fahnbulleh,” LMDC noted in an investigative report.
The disciplinary committee ordered that Dr. Jallah employs the service of an OB/GYN specialist as a consultant to handle special cases beyond and above her qualification.
They warned that subsequent action would lead to the suspension of her license.
Dr. Cooper, according to the investigation, acted beyond and above her scope of practice.
“She took responsibility of a patient that was far beyond her scope of practice as a general practitioner,” the report indicated.
Protesting Jallah’s Nomination
At a press conference on Wednesday February 7, Mr. Fahnbulleh said there are many witnesses who gave accounts of how Dr. Jallah “unprofessional and wicked practice” has led to the loss of scores of lives of their love ones and other family members at her hospital.
According to Mr. Fahnbulleh, it is not expedient for the Senate to confirm an individual whose character is questionable.
He accused the Dr. Jallah of exhibiting “unorthodox practices that disqualified her from becoming the next health minister, while claiming that there has been “seizure of expired drugs” that the hospital has been dispensing to patients and the “use of outdated equipment from her facility.”
Pastor Simeon Dunbar of the Liberty Christian Center, who is also Spiritual Father for the family, said the family will not rest until Dr. Jallah is prosecuted.
“We are petitioning the house and calling on the President to please don’t stain your government with a minster designate who failed several times sitting the state board test,” he said.
Pastor Dunbar warned that many people would lose their lives if Dr. Jallah is confirmed by the Liberian Senate.
“… Innocent people will die and the people who will allow this woman to pass and become health minister their family too will suffer,” he said at the press conference on Wednesday.
“We believe this government is the government of the people and it will do the best for Liberia to not return to the days of anarchy.”