A heart-wrenching scandal has erupted in Kitengela, exposing the rot in our healthcare system. A grieving mother was reportedly left unattended for hours at a local hospital while carrying a dead foetus, sparking a fierce public outcry over medical negligence and the commercialization of human life.

The incident, which has gone viral on social media, paints a picture of a facility that has lost its moral compass. Witnesses allege that despite her obvious distress and critical condition, the staff demanded "clearance" and admission fees before attending to her. It is a chilling echo of the "pay first, die later" policy that plagues many private facilities in Kenya.

"They Just Watched Her"

According to the family, the patient arrived in severe pain, only to be told that the baby had no heartbeat. Instead of immediate emergency induction or surgery, she was allegedly left on a bench as her family scrambled to raise funds. "They treated her like a customer with a declined card, not a human being in agony," said a distraught relative.

This is not an isolated case. It mirrors the recent tragedy in Kibera where an 8-month-old died after being given water instead of treatment. It raises the question: When did the Hippocratic Oath become hypocritical?

• The Golden Hour: Medical experts warn that retaining a deceased foetus poses severe risks of sepsis and infection to the mother. Every minute of delay was a gamble with her life.
• The Cash-First Culture: The obsession with deposits before treatment is a violation of the Constitution, which states that no Kenyan shall be denied emergency medical treatment. Yet, in Kitengela, cash is king.
• Public Fury: Residents are threatening protests, demanding the revocation of the hospital’s license. "We go there to be healed, not to be humiliated," wrote one angry netizen.

Systemic Failure

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has been called upon to investigate. But investigations often take years, while the trauma lasts a lifetime. For this mother, the loss of her child is compounded by the trauma of her treatment. She didn't just lose a baby; she lost her dignity at the hands of those sworn to protect it.

As the debate rages, the hospital management has remained tight-lipped. But silence will not wash away the stain of negligence. This tragedy must be a turning point. How many more mothers must suffer before we put humanity back into healthcare?