A Nigerian mother has accused a London hospital of delaying the release of medical records following the death of her 12-year-old son, prompting renewed calls for a transparency review into the conduct of British doctors in overseas cases.
Mrs. Funmi Adewale, a widow living in Lagos, lost her son Tunde in March after he was treated for a severe respiratory infection at the Royal London Hospital. The family had travelled to the UK for specialist care. Tunde died five days after admission. Mrs. Adewale alleges that the hospital has refused to provide a full copy of the clinical notes, citing data protection regulations.
"They keep telling me they need my signed consent, but I have given it multiple times," she said in a telephone interview. "I am being stalled. I want to know what happened to my son. The British doctors must be held accountable."
The hospital has denied any delay, stating that they have complied with all legal requirements. A spokesperson said: "We have responded to Mrs. Adewale's requests in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. We have provided her with a summary of her son's care, but a full copy of the medical notes requires a signed form which we have not yet received."
However, Mrs. Adewale insists she has sent the form twice by email and once by post. She has now instructed a solicitor and is considering a complaint to the Care Quality Commission.
The case has drawn attention to the wider issue of transparency in the treatment of international patients. Dr. James Kerr, a medical ethicist at King's College London, said: "There is a power imbalance. Hospitals must ensure that families from abroad are not given the runaround. The current system assumes all patients are British residents who can easily follow up. It needs reform."
The British Medical Association has acknowledged the issue and said it is reviewing guidance for doctors treating overseas patients. A BMA spokesperson said: "We take any allegation of poor communication seriously. Doctors must be transparent with all families regardless of nationality."
For Mrs. Adewale, the wait has been agonising. "I cannot bury my son until I know the truth," she said. "The British doctors are hiding something."
A review of hospital transparency protocols is now expected to be tabled in the House of Commons, led by Labour MP Stella Creasy, who has taken up the case. In a statement, Creasy said: "No mother should have to fight this hard for answers. I am calling on the Health Secretary to launch an immediate inquiry into the handling of international patient deaths."
The situation underscores the growing tension between institutional protocols and the demands of grieving families, as healthcare systems seek to balance data protection with accountability.
