The Curious Case of the Boy with "Missing Intestine": Are we Dealing with a Medical Communication Issue?

In recent times, the media in Nigeria has been inundated with the news of a boy whose intestine mysteriously disappeared at a hospital, with allegations of foul play. The recent visit of the Governor of Lagos State to check on the health of the boy has, once again, brought the story to the limelight.

The details of the case are not available to the public, and it would be speculative to talk about what happened. However, it is apparent that there is a communication problem.  How could the intestine be "missing"? This word may have been used at some point in communicating the health status of the patient, and it is now driving the sensations around this story to the detriment of the patient's confidentiality.

How we communicate medical conditions or findings is as important as the information itself, especially when we are dealing with the lay public. Patients and their families deserve information and explanation, communicated in the language and nuances they understand, and in an ambience that accommodates feedback and clarification. Medical practitioners must be intentional about ensuring that patients and their relations understand what diseases or injuries are present, the planned course of action concerning further investigation (where required), treatment options, expected outcomes (including the possibility of failure), general and specific risks, and complications. There cannot be truly informed consent if these elements and other relevant ones (depending on particular patients, their families, and their contexts) are not in the ingredients.

Effective communication, especially in medical practice, is not measured merely by the volume of information provided to patients or their next of kin. Rather, it is determined by the extent to which they fully understand what is being transmitted to them. The power imbalance between the healthcare provider and the patient often comes into play in their interactions. The medical doctor must recognise the dynamics and put the patient and their relations at ease by assuring and demonstrating the primacy of their preferences in any medical decisions. This disposition must be reinforced at every opportunity because health facilities exist basically to care for people, and these are patients and their communities.

I hope the Lagos State government will undertake a thorough investigation as indicated and get to the root of this odd case of the "missing intestine" in the circumstance. However, it may well be that miscommunication and misinformation may have misrepresented the misadventure of medical interventions in this patient.

Meanwhile, all hands must be on deck to save the life of this boy. The commitment of the Lagos government is commendable.