BY Daniel Bampoe
A major medical negligence suit has been filed against The Bank Hospital, with a patient accusing the facility of performing surgery on the wrong part of her body and failing to act on specialist recommendations for further treatment.
The plaintiff, Nana Yaa Ampem Darkowah Otchere, a social worker, has through her lawyers, Safo Katanka @ Law, issued and filed a writ at the High Court on February 26, 2026, seeking damages amounting to GH¢4 million.
According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff was initially referred from Ridge Hospital to the Bank Hospital for specialised care after being diagnosed with Right Catamenial Pneumothorax, a condition affecting the chest. She was subsequently admitted for surgical intervention aimed at correcting the condition.
However, in her 29-paragraph writ, the plaintiff alleges that despite being assured by medical staff that the procedure had been successful, her condition persisted, leading to the need for a second operation. It was after post-surgery examinations, including X-rays, that she reportedly discovered the earlier procedure had failed.
The situation, she claims, became more concerning when she requested a transfer to the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for further care.
According to the writ, the request was backed by a recommendation from a senior cardiothoracic surgeon at the facility. Despite this, the Bank Hospital allegedly failed to honour the transfer request.
Central to the lawsuit is the allegation that the surgeries were performed at the wrong location on her body. The plaintiff contends that the procedure should have been conducted below her breast but was instead carried out near her armpit—an error she describes as negligent and harmful.
Beyond the alleged surgical error, the plaintiff is also accusing the hospital of breaching Ghana’s National Health Policy (revised in 2020), particularly provisions relating to patient care standards and medical accountability.
As a result, she is seeking declaratory reliefs from the court, including a formal ruling that the hospital acted negligently, as well as financial compensation totalling GH¢4 million for the harm suffered.
In response, the defendant hospital has indicated its intention to contest the claims. On March 24, 2026, its legal representatives, Lithur Brew & Company, led by prominent lawyer Tony Lithur, entered an appearance in court on behalf of the facility.
