The Bahamas healthcare system faces intense scrutiny following the controversial death of 36-year-old Clanesha Adderley at Princess Margaret Hospital, prompting national outrage and official investigations. Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville has pledged comprehensive action, vowing his ministry would exhaust all resources to determine the circumstances surrounding the November 14 tragedy.
The case gained momentum after Adderley’s teenage daughter, Shamyah, provided harrowing testimony about discovering her mother’s lifeless body. The distraught 16-year-old recounted finding her mother cold and unresponsive with a dislodged oxygen mask and tear-streaked face—suggesting the patient might have been desperately calling for assistance that never arrived. ‘Dried tears on her face,’ the emotional teenager stated during a press conference with her grandparents. ‘It shows she probably was trying to call for help, but no one came.’
According to family accounts, the situation escalated when medical staff allegedly responded inadequately, with one nurse appearing frightened and addressing the deceased by her first name before clearing the ward of visitors. These allegations have ignited serious concerns about patient monitoring protocols and staff responsiveness at the public healthcare facility.
Minister Darville extended official condolences while emphasizing transparency, confirming that medical documentation related to the case is now under ministerial review. ‘A lot of investigations are ongoing,’ he acknowledged. ‘It is premature to discuss specifics, but I assure the family and Bahamian people we take these allegations seriously and will do everything to establish the facts.’
The tragedy unfolded over a two-week period beginning November 1 when Adderley was admitted to the Female Medical-Surgical East ward experiencing persistent pain that medication failed to alleviate. Family members reported her condition progressively deteriorated without clear diagnosis, culminating in desperate voice messages where the patient begged relatives to secure legal representation and transfer her to another facility. Adderley specifically expressed concerns about unauthorized medication administration during her final days.
Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director Dr. Aubynette Rolle confirmed the institution would not obstruct potential legal action while conducting its own transparent investigation. ‘What is in the notes cannot be changed,’ Dr. Rolle asserted. ‘Everything is recorded sequentially, and those notes along with our findings will be provided. If the family pursues litigation, the PHA will be prepared.’
The case has triggered three emergency meetings among health officials and sparked widespread public debate about healthcare standards in the Bahamas. Adderley, remembered as vibrant and full of life, was anticipating her daughter’s upcoming 17th birthday and high school graduation later this year.