The management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, has said the death of 14-week pregnant patient, Mrs. Uche-Chukwudokwe Amarachi, was linked to a severe kidney condition and not the minor ailment reported on social media.

The hospital, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Office, said Amarachi was brought to the facility after receiving treatment at a private hospital for generalized body swelling and difficulty in breathing.

According to the management, medical investigations conducted after her admission revealed severe anaemia, with a packed cell volume of 20 per cent, as well as significant protein and blood in her urine and fluid accumulation around her lungs.

The hospital said the findings led its medical team to diagnose her with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder that can pose significant risks to both a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

COOUTH said a multidisciplinary team subsequently reviewed her condition and counselled her husband on the need to terminate the pregnancy as a measure aimed at preserving her life.

The hospital, however, said the patient and her husband initially declined the recommendation.

It added that Amarachi was later transfused with three units of blood, after which her blood level improved, while she also received other medical interventions and supportive care.

The hospital said her condition later deteriorated, leading to unconsciousness. According to the statement, her husband subsequently gave consent for the termination of the pregnancy on the same day.

The medical team immediately began preparations for the procedure, but the patient died before it could be carried out.

COOUTH described reports portraying the deceased as having been admitted primarily for “cold and catarrh” as misleading, saying the narrative did not reflect the medical findings documented during her treatment.

The management urged members of the public to exercise caution before sharing unverified information about the case, warning that such reports could create unnecessary anxiety and damage the reputation of healthcare professionals and institutions.

It said the circumstances of Amarachi’s death should be assessed against her documented medical condition and the treatment she received at the hospital.

The hospital expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, saying it shared in their grief, and reaffirmed its commitment to ethical medical practice, evidence-based healthcare and the confidentiality of patients under its care.