The doctor’s negligence caused a patient’s death, the judge ruled.

A Kano State High Court on Friday ordered the State Government to pay N20 million as damages to the family of one Maijidda Aminu, now late.

The late Aminu died of alleged negligence while on admission at the Abdullahi Wase Hospital, Kano in April 2008.

The hospital is owned by the Kano State Government.

The father of the deceased, Ali Babba-Dan’agundi, instituted a legal action against the hospital for alleged negligence by its staff handling Aminu’s case.

The family alleged that when late Aminu was brought to the hospital for treatment, the doctor on duty was nowhere to be found.

The family also alleged that the doctor was in his private clinic on the day in question.

However, before he, the doctor, could be called to attend to the patient, the patient died.

Delivering judgment on Friday, the Judge, Aisha Mahmud, awarded the sum as damages to the family of the deceased.

She said in view of the evidence before her, she was satisfied that there was negligence on the part of the doctor on duty.

The judge also ordered the hospital’s management to give the father of the deceased a copy of the report of the findings of the committee set up by the hospital’s management to investigate the case.

During the case, two witnesses testified for the plaintiff while seven witnesses testified for the defendants.

(NAN)