How medical errors and delays in post-operative care killed former first lady Stella Obasanjo
On September 22, 2009, a Spanish doctor, Antonio Mena, was sentenced to one year in prison in Spain for his role in the death of former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, in 2005.
Stella Obasanjo died on October 23, 2005, from complications following an elective liposuction surgery performed by Dr Mena at the Molding Clinic in Marbella, Spain.
The procedure, which was intended to be routine, ended in tragedy after a series of critical medical errors and delays in post-operative care.
During the surgery, Dr Mena mistakenly inserted a tube used for fat removal into Mrs Obasanjo’s abdominal cavity, puncturing her colon and lacerating her liver.
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These injuries led to severe internal complications that required urgent medical intervention. The court later found that after the operation, the doctor was not readily available, having turned off his mobile phone.
It was also established that there was a significant delay in transferring Mrs Obasanjo to an intensive care unit. Instead of arranging for an ambulance, Dr Mena transported her in his private car, a decision that further delayed critical treatment.
In September 2009, a court in Málaga, Spain, convicted Dr Mena of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from practising medicine for three years. In addition, the court ordered him to pay €120,000 (approximately $176,000 at the time) in compensation to Stella Obasanjo’s son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo.
The case drew international attention and remains one of the most widely discussed medical negligence cases involving a prominent African public figure abroad.
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