FIDA-Kenya to Sue Pandya Hospital Over Negligence
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya has condemned an incident involving an alleged sexual assault of a female patient at Pandya Memorial hospital.
The alleged sexual assault, which the hospital confirms investigating, is said to have been perpetrated by a male doctor to the a female patient seeking dialysis services from the renal department.
FiDA’s chair Christine Kungu, through a statement read on her behalf by advocate Jane Onyango, says the egregious act violates medical ethics and fundamental rights of patients to safety and dignity.
In a media brief on February 3, 2025 in Mombasa, the women lawyers want the director of public prosecutions and the criminal investigating arm of government to reign in on the matter and serve justice to the patient.
The Federation claims the dialysis victim had reported the matter at the hospital management, but no action was taken until she reported to the authorities.
The incident is said to have happened late 2024 and continued early 2025.
“FIDA-Kenya demands the DCI and ODPP to arrest and charge the said doctor with immediate effect.
Such a case should not happen or continue to happen in our midst. The officers should also investigate and charge some of the staff who knew about the matter, but kept quiet,” she said.
The federation wants the government to withdraw or revoke the operation licence of all medical officers found guilty of the offence.
This is even as they plan to file a lawsuit in the next few days against the hospital in the quest to seek compensation for the victim of the incident.
“As Fida-Kenya, we are going to file a civil lawsuit against the Pandya Hospital for gross negligence against the victim and failure to protect her dignity.”
However, the hospital, through a statement, confirmed that the said doctor had been arrested and investigations started to collect evidence by the police.
According to the hospital statement the matter came to the fore on January 31, 2025 and it was being addressed through all legal procedures to ensure justice for the patient.
The hospital confirmed that the victim has been assigned to a pool of counsellors to give her counseling services.
The hospital management, through the press release, said it would share more information regarding the incident as things unfold in the future.
“The hospital has taken all requisite legal and procedural steps which led to the arrest of the medical personnel who is helping police with investigations.
The victim has received immediate medical care and a counsellor has been assigned to her by the hospital,” the statement reads in part.