Monrovia, Liberia – The family of Lovette Tamba, a 32-year-old woman who tragically died while 26 weeks pregnant, has filed a formal complaint against John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) in Monrovia. They accuse the hospital’s medical staff, including anesthesiologist Dr. Gonkernue Nuahn, of negligence that contributed to her death on January 14, 2025.
In their complaint to the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), the Tamba family claims that Lovette’s death resulted from improper care and a lack of timely attention by the medical staff at the hospital’s maternity ward. They are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Lovette was admitted to JFK on January 9, 2025, with mild abdominal pain. After an initial assessment, doctors prescribed antibiotics and other treatments. Despite these efforts, her condition worsened over the next several days. Her hemoglobin levels significantly dropped, and she began showing signs of a preterm rupture of membranes. As her health continued to decline, she was transferred to the labor ward, where she delivered a stillborn child early on January 14.
The family claims that despite the severity of her bleeding, medical staff failed to address her condition promptly, even after Lovette’s sister, who is also a doctor, expressed concerns about the delay in treatment.
The complaint further accuses Dr. Kamara, a physician at the hospital, of failing to perform surgery in a timely manner after Lovette showed signs of a retained placenta. According to the family, Lovette remained in the recovery room for eight hours, bleeding heavily, before being moved to the operating room. It was during the surgery that Lovette reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
The hospital issued a death certificate stating that Lovette died from multiple organ failure due to cardiac arrest. However, the family disputes this, claiming that her body showed signs of death long before the official pronouncement on January 16. They allege that the hospital falsified the cause of death in an attempt to cover up what they believe was medical malpractice.
In their complaint, the Tamba family is demanding justice and an independent investigation into the events surrounding Lovette’s death. The family’s representative, Joshua Tamba, emphasized that those responsible for the alleged negligence should be held accountable.
“We demand immediate justice for Lovette Tamba and for the truth to be uncovered,” the letter reads. “We cannot let her death be in vain.”
The John F. Kennedy Medical Center has not yet responded directly to the specific allegations made by the Tamba family. Dr. Linda Birch, the hospital’s Administrator, declined to comment, while Public Relations Officer Josephine Seekey confirmed that the matter is under review by the LMDC and will be addressed when appropriate.
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council, through its Chairperson Dr. Benetta Collins Andrews, acknowledged receiving the complaint and confirmed it had been referred to the LMDC’s Grievance and Ethics Committee. The committee, which is composed of independent members, will begin its investigation in accordance with standard procedures.
