Monrovia – A Liberian family has filed a formal complaint against the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) following the alleged wrongful death of their relative, Lovette Tamba.
By Obediah Johnson [email protected]
The family claims that Tamba, who was 32 years old and 26 weeks pregnant at the time, died due to medical malpractice at the hospital.
The complaint specifically names Dr. Gonkernue Nuahn, an anesthesiologist at JFK, along with other hospital staff, accusing them of mishandling the care provided to Tamba which ultimately led to her untimely death on January 14, 2025.
In a letter submitted to Dr. Benetta Collins Andrews, Chairperson of the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), the family has called for an investigation into the matter.
The complaint alleges that Tamba’s death resulted from the actions — or lack thereof— by Dr. Nuahn and other involved medical personnel at the JFK Medical Center, Liberia’s largest referral hospital, located in Sinkor, Monrovia.
“We are deeply saddened to formally complain against the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Dr. Gonkernue Nuahn, and other involved staff in the death of our family member, Lovette Tamba, who died as a result of alleged medical malpractice at the JFK Maternity Hospital on January 14, 2025,” the letter from the Tamba family states.
Timeline of Events
According to the family, Tamba was in good health when she was admitted to JFK on January 9, 2025, after experiencing mild abdominal pain. She was initially assessed by Dr. Sannoh, who reported that Tamba’s cervix was “tip of finger” with no leakage of amniotic fluid. She was treated with medications including Metronidazole infusion, nifedipine, and ceftriaxone.
However, Tamba’s condition worsened as her hemoglobin level dropped to 8.2g/dL, and she began to experience preterm rupture of the membranes along with mild leakage of amniotic fluid.
In response, her medication regimen was adjusted, but the family maintains that Tamba was not transfused until she showed signs of shortness of breath, although her condition improved after the transfusion.
As her abdominal pain worsened, Dr. Kamara reportedly determined that Lovette was 4 cm dilated, and she was moved to the labor ward.
At 2:59 AM on January 14, 2025, Tamba expelled a stillborn fetus, followed by continuous vaginal bleeding. The family claims that despite the midwife administering medication, doctors failed to attend to Tamba promptly. This led to concerns from her sister, who is a medical doctor herself.
Alleged Negligence and Death
The family alleges that after Tamba’s condition deteriorated further, Dr. Kamara called for immediate surgery to remove the retained placenta. However, the family claims that Tamba was left in the recovery room, still bleeding, for 8 hours before being moved to the operating theater.
Once in the operating room, the Tamba family reports hearing staff asking for urgent medications, including tranexamic acid and adrenaline, as they tried to revive Lovette after what they claim was a cardiac arrest. Tragically, Lovette died during the procedure.
The complaint further alleges that after Tamba was declared dead, her body was kept on a ventilator for two additional days in the ICU before she was officially pronounced deceased on January 16, 2025.
The family claims that the hospital issued a falsified death certificate, stating that Tamba died from multiple organ failure due to cardiac arrest — an explanation they dispute.
Tamba’s sister, who visited the ICU, allegedly observed signs of death on her sister’s body, including dilated, fixed pupils. When the family sought an explanation from Dr. Nuahn, they claim he suggested that anemic heart failure or medication might have contributed to her death.
However, the family maintains that the events leading to Tamba’s death indicate severe medical negligence.
Demand for Justice
The Tamba family is now demanding justice, calling for an independent investigation into the events surrounding Lovette Tamba’s death. The complaint, signed by Joshua Tamba, a family representative, emphasizes the need for accountability from both the hospital and the medical personnel involved.
“The family and humanity are demanding immediate justice for Lovette Tamba,” the letter concludes.
Response from Hospital and LMDC
When contacted for comment, Dr. Linda Birch, Administrator of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, declined to respond to inquiries from FrontPage Africa. However, Josephine Seekey, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, stated that the administration would address the matter at the appropriate time, as the LMDC is already investigating the complaint.
Dr. Benetta Collins Andrews, Chairperson of the LMDC, confirmed that the complaint had been filed and stated that it has been referred to the Grievance and Ethics Committee.
She explained that the committee, composed of members not employed by the LMDC, would begin investigating the case in accordance with standard procedures.
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