The President of the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), Benetta Collins Andrews, has responded to the growing controversy surrounding Jamesetta Kugmeh’s allegations that she suffered severe medical complications following a botched cesarean section at ELWA Hospital. Andrews, in a Facebook post on Sunday, March 16, 2025, acknowledged the widespread concern and assured the public that the LMDC would investigate the matter.
“Came back to my lodging in Harper last evening to a lot of inbox messages, Facebook tags, and direct calls from well-meaning people regarding the health issues of Jamesetta. Thanks to the general public, as this indicates a strong interest in the work of the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, which is a public agency enacted by law to regulate medical practice,” Andrews wrote.
She refrained from making direct comments on the case, explaining that it would be inappropriate as the matter could be subject to litigation. However, she expressed deep sympathy for Kugmeh’s condition and emphasized that the LMDC would carry out a thorough investigation.
“The LMDC is definitely going to investigate this case,” she stated. “It is, however, important to note that adjudication of cases of medical malpractice is not a one-size-fits-all. The duration of investigations may take days, weeks, or months depending on the professional expertise needed and the availability of funding.”
Andrews explained that in cases like Kugmeh’s, multiple medical experts would need to be consulted, including an obstetrician/gynecologist to examine the labor and delivery process, a nephrologist to assess kidney function, and a radiologist to evaluate internal organ damage. She noted that these specialists do not work for the LMDC but are engaged on a case-by-case basis and require compensation for their services.
“Medical regulation is a very expensive venture,” she stated, pointing out that the LMDC already has a backlog of cases that require funding for proper adjudication. She urged the relevant authorities to allocate resources to ensure timely and effective investigations.
Kugmeh’s ordeal, which she detailed on social media on March 15, has triggered a national outcry over the state of maternal healthcare in Liberia. She alleges that what should have been a routine delivery turned into a life-threatening situation that resulted in kidney failure, liver damage, and the removal of her womb. Additionally, she claims to have suffered severe burns on her legs and back, undergone eight sessions of dialysis without urinating, and experienced a collapsed urethra.
Her nightmare, she says, began on February 24, 2025, when she visited ELWA Hospital for a routine antenatal care appointment. She claims doctors informed her that she was past her due date and needed labor induction. After enduring hours of extreme pain with no progress, doctors recommended a cesarean section on February 25. Despite her partner’s objections, she agreed, believing it was necessary for her and her baby’s safety.
“I accepted, not knowing I was accepting my death,” Kugmeh lamented.
She further alleges that after the surgery, her condition deteriorated rapidly, but ELWA Hospital delayed transferring her to another medical facility. By the time she was moved to John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), she claims her health had significantly worsened. She now fears for her life and is desperately seeking advanced medical treatment abroad, believing that her survival depends on it.
