An inquest will be held into the death of Nigerian woman Bimbo Onanuga who died almost three years ago following treatment at Dublin’s Rotunda maternity hospital.
An inquest will be held into the death of Nigerian woman Bimbo Onanuga who died almost three years ago following treatment at Dublin’s Rotunda maternity hospital.
As a gesture to the late woman’s family, supporters are now fundraising to cover related travel costs for her partner and brother, both based in London.
Onanuga (32) died on 4 March 2010 at the Mater Hospital’s intensive care unit following treatment at the Rotunda.
Serious flaws in her care at the north Dublin maternity hospital were indicated in recommendations arising from a Rotunda-HSE case review. The recommendations were released in the Dáil in 2011 following pressure from the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMSI).
Onanuga had attended the Rotunda on 1 March 2010 after a GP consultation. An intrauterine foetal death (death of child in the womb) was confirmed at 29 weeks and five days into term.
According to the Rotunda Hospital Clinical Report 2010, Onanuga – unnamed but identifiable in the report – was subject to “planned induction of labour” with the drugs Misoprostol and Mifepristone. It is understood that Onanuga subsequently suffered uterine rupture.
The Rotunda Hospital Clinical Report stated: “Coroner’s post-mortem confirmed uterine rupture at the site of uterine perforation most likely as a complication of previous termination of pregnancy.”
As previously reported in Metro Éireann, the late woman’s partner Abiola Adesina had said he was left alone with her in the Rotunda while she deteriorated, and that his pleas for assistance were not acted upon.
Solicitors MacGeehin Toale, representing Adesina, wrote to the Dublin City Coroner in November 2011 outlining reasons for requesting an inquest based on medical advice it had sought and on the basis that Onanuga’s family are entitled to satisfactory answers as to what caused her death. The granting of an inquest was confirmed to advocates in December.
The development has been welcomed by Salome Mbugua, director of migrant women’s network AkiDwA. “I’m so happy to hear that this is moving ahead, ” she said.
It is understood that supporters, as a gesture to the family, now intend to raise funds to assist with the travel costs of Onanuga’s partner and brother. Those interested in making a contribution can contact AkiDwA for further information.
The Dublin District Coroner’s Office plans to set the inquest for April “pending confirmation from a number of medical witnesses”. The office issued no further comment on the decision to grant an inquest.
A Rotunda spokesperson said the hospital would not comment on “this or any other individual case”.
