St. Joseph Catholic Hospital Fined $30,000 and Suspends Surgeries After Tragic Death of 21-Year-Old Isaiah B. Williams

Monrovia Liberia: The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has taken significant action against St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Congo Town following the tragic death of 21-year-old Isaiah Benedicto Williams. Isaiah, a recent high school graduate and the only child of his mother, Veronica B. Teah, passed away on December 24, 2024, due to medical malpractice.

An investigation by the LMDC uncovered grave lapses, including the use of non-functional equipment, licensing violations, and procedural errors that contributed to the young man's untimely death. In response, the LMDC has suspended all surgical procedures at the hospital until safety measures and critical infrastructure improvements are implemented.

Key Findings and Penalties

The tragedy began when Isaiah was admitted for surgery. His mother reportedly misrepresented his age as 16 to secure treatment under her insurance policy, which had an age limit. During surgery preparation, Isaiah suffered a fatal reaction to anesthesia administered by a nurse anesthetist, Nurse Maima, rather than a certified anesthesiologist. Efforts by the lead surgeon, Dr. Thaddee Ngoy, to resuscitate Isaiah failed, largely due to malfunctioning resuscitation equipment in the operating theater.

The LMDC issued the following penalties:

Dr. Thaddee Ngoy: Fined $1,500 for practicing with an expired medical license. Dr. Ngoy’s license had lapsed on December 31, 2024, days before the incident. He is required to complete a three-month CPR course and Continuing Medical Education (CME).

Nurse Maima: Her license has been suspended for six months for administering anesthesia without proper oversight, leading to complications. During the suspension, she must work under the supervision of a certified anesthesiologist.

Nurse Rachel: Ordered to undergo formal training in triage, pre-operative anesthesia review, and handover procedures while serving a one-month suspension.

The hospital itself has been fined $30,000. Of this, $5,000 will go toward Isaiah’s burial expenses, while $25,000 will be paid to his mother as compensation for emotional distress.

Hospital Reforms Ordered by LMDC

In addition to the fines, the LMDC has mandated the following reforms:

Immediate suspension of surgeries until the hospital addresses critical safety deficiencies, including securing functional anesthesia machines.

Mandatory CPR training for all emergency and critical care staff within three months.

Recruitment of a full-time anesthesiologist within one month to enhance patient safety protocols.

Contracting a biomedical technician to ensure the proper maintenance of medical equipment.

Establishing a Level 2 or Level 3 ICU within one year, subject to LMDC approval.

Ensuring updated certifications and licenses for all medical staff.

Family Reaction

Veronica B. Teah, Isaiah's grieving mother, expressed dissatisfaction with the LMDC’s penalties, calling them inadequate. "This was my only child," she lamented, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss she has endured. Despite the hospital's fine, Veronica remains unconvinced that justice has been fully served.