The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has officially released the findings of its investigation into the death of 28-year-old Jamesetta Kugmeh, dismissing widely circulated allegations of organ removal and attributing her death to kidney failure and other internal complications.
Kugmeh, whose harrowing medical saga drew national and international attention, died on May 20 at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia. Her condition had rapidly deteriorated following a cesarean section performed earlier this year at ELWA Hospital.
Her case sparked public outrage, viral social media posts, and street protests, as relatives and supporters accused medical personnel of negligence and foul play. Protesters demanded a full autopsy and accountability, with many citing her own chilling message before her death, in which she requested an autopsy and claimed to suspect a coverup.
But in a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Benetta Collins Andrews, chairperson of the Medical Council, said the LMDC’s Ethics and Grievance Committee, comprised of independent medical professionals, found no evidence of surgical organ removal.
“The committee thoroughly reviewed medical records, imaging, and lab reports from JFK Hospital, Jamale Hospital at ELWA Junction, and Ghana Teaching Hospital,” Dr. Andrews said. “There is no clinical or surgical evidence to support claims that Ms. Kugmeh’s kidneys or any other organs were removed.”
Instead, the report cited kidney failure and other internal complications as the cause of death, conditions consistent with her deteriorating state following childbirth.
The Council’s statement comes amid ongoing public skepticism, with many Liberians still demanding further transparency and accountability. While the official report may put to rest some of the more severe claims, advocacy groups insist that the broader questions around maternal care, patient safety, and systemic health failures remain unresolved.
“She may not have lost her organs, but she still lost her life in a system that failed her,” said one protester reacting to the news. “We need more than just reports, we need reform.”
The Medical and Dental Council has promised to publish the full report and make its recommendations to the Ministry of Health for review.
As the nation continues to mourn the loss of Jamesetta Kugmeh, many are now turning their focus toward long-overdue changes in Liberia’s healthcare system, changes they say are vital to ensure no other woman has to endure what Jamesetta did.
