[1992]DLSC853 • July 29, 1992 • Supreme Court •
REPUBLIC vs. KORLE GONNO DISTRICT MAGISTRATE GRADE I; EX PARTE AMPOMAH
Emmanuel Atta Ampomah, a known hypertensive and diabetic patient for over two decades, died suddenly at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on 29 January 1990. A partial postmortem by Dr Simmons found bilateral intracerebral haemorrhage consistent with hypertensive heart disease. Dissatisfied, the family requested a second postmortem by Dr Felix Dodu, who found no marks of violence and concluded the immediate cause of death was 'undetermined' due to inability to examine the brain tissue removed in the first postmortem. The coroner initiated an inquest despite the medical reports indicating natural causes. The widow, Flora Ampomah, challenged the coroner's jurisdiction, arguing the cause of death was known and the inquest unnecessary.
read moreThe late Emmanuel Atta Ampomah was known, before his death as a hypertensive and diabetic patient for over two decades and had been on treatment at various hospitals for both ailments. His state of health was known to his family and his widow, Madam Flora Ampomah, who was married to the deceased for 30 years. On 29 January 1990 the deceased, upon admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, died. On the same day the body was sent to the mortuary and upon information given by a Dr Boateng, a friend of the family, a post-mortem examination was conducted by the pathologist-in-charge of the mortuary, Dr Simmons, who did a partial post-mortem by opening the head of the corpse. In his police statement, Dr Simmons stated that: “On opening the skull I found ‘Bilateral intracerebral haemorrhage with subarachnoid extension’ which was also seen by Dr Boateng, the technician who assisted me and the medical students present. This finding was consistent with hypertensive heart disease.” ...