Dr Olusina Ajidahun, a medical doctor known on X as The Bearded Dr Sina, has clarified that claims by the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, that hospitals refused to treat their father could create a misleading impression about his medical care. He explained that palliative care may be recommended for stage-four cancer patients after chemotherapy and other treatment options have been explored.
Doctor's Clarification on Hospital Refusal Claims
Ajidahun, who said he was not involved in Ogogo's medical care, stated that saying doctors “don’t want to treat” the actor could give the public the wrong impression about the medical team's decision. He emphasized that the situation is not about intentional rejection but about medical appropriateness.
“When patients have stage 4 cancer and chemo and/or other therapies have been explored. There is a form of care called PALLIATIVE CARE.. which 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,” he said.
Daughters' Appeals and Hospital's Position
Ogogo's daughters, Halimah and Shakirat Taiwo, had separately appealed online for help. In an Instagram video, Lima (Halimah) said Ogogo's condition had deteriorated and claimed that hospitals were refusing to treat him. She noted the family had become aware of the seriousness of his condition about three weeks earlier, despite the actor not initially appearing severely ill. She appealed for connections to healthcare providers willing to take on Ogogo's case, stressing they sought medical help, not financial donations.
Kira (Shakirat), in a separate video, disclosed that her father had stage-four cancer and said the hospital told the family it could no longer administer chemotherapy. “The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said. She also appealed for anyone who could provide cancer treatment, mentioning chemotherapy and herbal options.
Warning Against Herbal Remedies and Misinformation
Ajidahun cautioned against presenting the situation as a straightforward refusal by doctors, particularly where treatment options may have been exhausted or deemed unsuitable. He warned against unverified herbal remedies being promoted as treatments for advanced cancer.
“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 said.
He further explained that stage-four cancer means the disease has spread beyond the organ where it first developed. “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 added.
Understanding Palliative Care and Next Steps
Palliative care, as explained by the doctor, focuses on managing symptoms associated with serious illness and helping patients maintain quality of life when the underlying disease can no longer be treated effectively. The concept is particularly relevant in advanced cancer, where doctors may determine that further chemotherapy or other disease-directed treatments are unlikely to provide sufficient benefit. The decision to stop a particular treatment does not mean that all medical care has ended.
Ajidahun urged Ogogo's family to continue working with the medical team caring for the actor and expressed sympathy. “I do hope Ogogo’s daughter and family see this. Wishing the family all the best throughout the trying times,” he said.
Ogogo, 66, has spent more than four decades in the Nigerian film industry and has featured in over 300 films, becoming one of the prominent figures in Yoruba cinema.
