Doctor found guilty of misconduct after baby deaths

Complaints against Dr. Ikechukwu (Steven) Madu from 2014

Before obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Ikechukwu (Steven) Madu was working with Labrador-grenfell Health, he handled three cases resulting in professional complaints, including one case involving the death of a baby in utero and another where a baby was stillborn.

The three cases date back to 2014. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador issued a written decision Friday, after review of the cases.

Madu was found guilty of professional misconduct.

He was ordered to provide a written apology to the complainants, receive an in-person reprimand, be subject to a three-month suspension of his medical license, and complete a course on ethical conduct and informed consent.

He was ordered to pay $20,000, to cover the cost of the investigations and hearings.

In a statement Friday, Labradorgrenfell Health stated Madu will be serving his three-month suspension in a series of one-month intervals.

“Labrador-grenfell Health reassures residents of Labrador West that obstetrical and gynecological services are in place at the Labrador West Health Centre. Arrangements are in place for service delivery, including to expectant mothers, through locum obstetrician/ gynecologists,” it stated.

Locum simply refers to doctors hired to fill in for others unavailable for a time.

“The complaints listed in the tribunal decision were filed while Dr. Madu was practicing with another regional health authority …The Health Authority has had no issue or concern with Dr. Madu’s clinical practice. Clients who may have specific questions about their appointments can call the Obstetrical Clinic at 285-8218,” read the statement.

Madu’s licence was suspended in 2014. He underwent two external assessments of his skill and competence to practice obstetrics and gynecology and successfully completed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada final examination prior to receiving a full licence to practice in April 2016.

The first of the three complaints against Madu brought before the College of Physicians and Surgeons was from a pre-natal clinic visit on July 30, 2014. It was found the doctor did not provide adequate supervision to a medical resident assessing the patient on his behalf. He also failed to put a plan in place to induce labour at 38-39 weeks, in keeping with the patient’s diabetic status.

When the patient was admitted to hospital at 41 weeks, an ultrasound revealed the baby was dead.

The second complaint dates to time in a delivery suite on June 6, 2014. Madu failed to connect the patient to a tocodynamometer, used to monitor contractions. He failed to recognize abnormalities in the heartbeat and expedite the delivery.

The baby was stillborn.

The final complaint reviewed was from July 18, 2014.

He proceeded with a surgery — an endometrial ablation — without properly understanding the patient’s history and discussing and documenting the risks and benefits of the procedure.

The college’s tribunal found, in each of the three cases from 2014, he failed to apply and maintain the standards of practice expected by the profession and his actions amounted to conduct deserving of sanction.