Doctor explains palliative care after Ogogo’s daughters claim hospitals turned him away

A doctor, Olusina Ajidahun, has responded to claims made by the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, known as Ogogo. They said hospitals have stopped treating their father, who is facing stage-four cancer.

The doctor, who goes by The Bearded Dr Sina on X, said the daughters' words about their father's care could be misinterpreted. He specifically mentioned their claim that hospitals refused to treat him.

In his reaction on Monday, he explained that patients with stage-four cancer might be moved to palliative care after trying chemotherapy and other treatments.

He wrote, “They don’t want to treat my father again. This is a dangerous statement and can set the tide against the medical team treating her Dad.

“When patients have stage 4 cancer and chemo and/or other therapies have been explored, there is a form of care called PALLIATIVE CARE. This is end-of-life care and care for terminal diseases because at the point of the disease you cannot treat it, but you can manage associated symptoms and give the person a good quality of life before death.”

The doctor warned that calling it a refusal from hospitals could create a bad image of healthcare workers. This could lead to anger towards medical professionals.

“Saying they don’t want to treat my father makes it look like they are intentionally rejecting him. In light of recent events in the health sector, it can trigger an insurrection and put a bad label on health care workers,” he said.

He also advised against recommending herbal remedies for stage-four cancer. He cautioned that unverified herbal concoctions could cause more harm.

He said, “IF YOU HAVE HERBS that treat cancer. Don’t do this. There are no herbs that will treat a stage 4 cancer. These concoctions will end up damaging more organs and causing more complications. You’d end up wasting money and causing more problems.”

He explained that stage-four cancer means the disease has spread beyond where it started.

“People need to understand that Stage 4 cancer means the cancer has left the primary organ and gone to other sites. Your Doctor knows what’s best, and it is good you work hand in hand with the team to give the best productivity,” he said.

The doctor also expressed sympathy for Ogogo’s family. He hopes they will work closely with the medical team treating the actor.

“I do hope Ogogo’s daughter and family see this. Wishing the family all the best throughout the trying times,” he added.

The doctor clarified that he is not involved in Ogogo’s medical care. He was sharing his thoughts on the daughters’ videos.

PUNCH Online reported that Ogogo’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, separately asked for help on Instagram regarding their father’s health.

In a video posted on her Instagram on Monday, Lima said her father’s condition had worsened. She claimed that hospitals had refused to treat him.

“Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help from my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad.

“And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything,” she said.

Lima mentioned that the family only learned how serious the actor's condition was about three weeks ago. She added that his appearance did not show how ill he was.

“You see him, you can’t even know that. Something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said.

She insisted that the family is looking for medical help, not financial donations. She appealed to anyone with contacts in healthcare who could treat her father.

“Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said.

Lima also thanked a relative for their support during the crisis.

“My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said.

She ended her video with an emotional plea, saying she could not bear to watch her father die.

“But if he’s willing to do anything, please, if you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, would you really appreciate it? Please, I can’t watch my daddy die. I can’t. I can’t. Please. Please,” she said.

In another Instagram video, Kira also asked for help, revealing that her father’s cancer is at stage four.

“Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said.

Kira pleaded for anyone who could help treat the actor, including with chemotherapy.

“What I’m here for, what I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you, guys, I’m begging you, any help, anything, anybody that you know that can treat cancer, please, please, I’m begging you,” she said.

She urged anyone who knows a doctor or hospital that can help to contact her, her sister, or the actor directly.

“Please, please, if you can treat my daddy, please send me a DM. I’ll be checking my phone. Please, I don’t want my daddy to die,” Kira said.

She became emotional while talking about her father’s suffering, saying she had never seen him in such pain.

“God, give me strength. I’m suffering so bad. There’s no money, but if you know anybody that can treat my daddy, Andrew, please,” she said.

Kira added that her father is scared of dying.

“He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.

Hassan, 66, is a well-known figure in the Nigerian film industry. His career spans over forty years, and he has acted in more than 300 films. He is one of the most recognizable faces in Yoruba cinema.