Woman drags Marie Stopes to court, alleges medical negligence

A Lusaka woman has taken legal action against Marie Stopes Zambia Limited, alleging that medical negligence at the clinic resulted in a miscarriage and severe emotional distress. In a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court, the woman—identified as Mary for privacy—accuses the reproductive health provider of failing to properly assess her condition, despite clear indications that she could have been pregnant. Mary stated that she visited the clinic on June 11, 2025, at its Kudu Road premises in Kabulonga for a gynaecological consultation.

She informed the attending gynaecologist that she had stopped using contraceptives because she intended to conceive and had been experiencing abnormal menstrual cycles for about two months. According to the claim, Mary explained that her last normal menstrual period was in April 2025, and that she had only experienced unusual spotting on May 13, 15 and 17, each episode lasting less than two hours. She said she had missed her menses for nearly two months by the time she sought medical attention.

The gynaecologist reportedly attributed the irregular menses to hormonal imbalance and recommended several hormonal tests. However, no pregnancy test or ultrasound scan was conducted. When Mary returned to the clinic on June 21, 2025, she was informed that her test results were normal.

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Despite this, she was prescribed medication intended to regulate her hormones and menstrual cycle, which she was instructed to take twice daily for three months. “She trusted the medical advice given and followed all instructions in the hope of conceiving,” the statement read. Mary stated that she experienced persistent discomfort and nausea while taking the medication but continued regardless.

On August 13, 2025, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain and bleeding, which worsened in the following days, prompting her to seek emergency medical care. She was later treated at Michael Chilufya Sata Level One Hospital, where she was diagnosed with an incomplete miscarriage. Medical findings indicated that she was approximately 17 weeks pregnant at the time.

“The defendant failed to act with the reasonable care expected of a medical practitioner,” Mary stated in her claim. She is seeking damages for negligence, emotional distress, mental anguish, medical expenses, interest and costs.

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