UBTH patient commits suicide
A male patient whose identity was not disclosed has reportedly committed suicide at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, male medical ward the hospital spokesman, Mr. Joshua Uwaila, has said.
The incident occurred at the Male Medical ward of the hospital popularly known as popularly known as Ward A1 on Saturday night.
It was alleged that the victim took his own life while waiting for a doctor.
The victim (name withheld) allegedly stabbed himself with a broken window glass in the throat and severed his jugular leading to his death in male medical ward.
The wife of the patient was away to buy an item at a nearby shop within the hospital premises when the tragedy occurred, eyewitnesses said.
The development triggered a spontaneous protest by some patients at the ward.
A witness, who did not want his name mentioned, and who was also admitted in the ward on Saturday night, disclosed that the deceased came to the hospital with his wife.
“The man suddenly became wild and broke a glass by his bed window and stabbed himself to death,” he said.
“His wife was not around. She went out to buy something outside. There was blood everywhere. We were lucky not to have been injured,” the eyewitness said.
The body of the deceased was later taken to the hospital morgue.
Confirming the incident to journalists in Benin on Tuesday, the spokesman of the university hospital, described the incident as unfortunate.
“A young man, who was a patient at the male medical ward of our hospital, whose diagnosis cannot be disclosed for confidentiality reason, suddenly broke a louvre blade and stabbed himself,” he said.
“Uwaila said efforts to resuscitate the man proved abortive, as he was certified dead at 11p.m.”he said
At the time of filling this report, an inquest into the cause of death of the patient is still being awaited.
