By Akintunde Aderonke Omolewu | Fact Frontier.
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A shocking video from a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has angered people around the world. In the video, a doctor is seen beating a young woman who had just given birth. The incident happened on March 26, 2026, at Kinkole General Hospital in the capital city, Kinshasa.
The young mother, named Dorcas Soraya Mulema, is only 21 years old. She had just delivered her first baby and was bleeding heavily. The doctor, Dr. David Balanganayi, wanted to stitch her wounds, but the woman was terrified and in too much pain to cooperate. Instead of helping her calmly, the doctor started hitting her and shouting at her to get back on the bed. Worse still, someone filmed the attack, and the video was shared online without the woman's permission.
Swift Arrest and Trial
The video spread quickly, and people were outraged. The police arrested Dr. Balanganayi on the very same day. His trial began on March 27, 2026, at the Kinkole High Court. He is facing serious charges: torture, attempted murder, assault, and invasion of privacy. If found guilty, he could spend up to 20 years in prison.
The doctor has tried to defend himself. He said he used violence because it was an emergency and he needed to stop the bleeding. But many people, including other doctors, have rejected this excuse. The medical director of the hospital where the attack happened said that beating a patient is never allowed.
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What Happened to the Doctor's License?
The DRC's Minister of Health called for the doctor to be permanently banned from practicing medicine. However, the National Council of the Order of Physicians, which regulates doctors, decided only to suspend him for three months for now. That decision has upset many people who feel the punishment is too light.
Condemning This Act
What this doctor did was wrong on every level. A hospital is supposed to be a place of healing. A mother who has just given birth is at her most vulnerable. She needs care, kindness, and respect. Instead, this woman was beaten, humiliated, and filmed.
No medical emergency ever justifies violence against a patient. Even if a patient is scared and refuses to cooperate, a doctor's job is to calm them down, explain what is happening, and find a safe solution. Hitting and shouting are not treatments.
This case has opened a painful conversation in the DRC. Many women have now come forward to say they have also been abused while giving birth. It shows that this is not just one bad doctor. It may be a bigger problem in the healthcare system.
What Happens Next?
The trial will continue, and the victim is expected to testify on April 1, 2026. The verdict is expected soon after. The First Lady of the DRC, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, has made sure the young mother and her baby are now getting good care at a private hospital.
We must hope that the court delivers justice. If the doctor is not punished properly, it will send a terrible message that abusing women in the delivery room is somehow acceptable. That cannot happen. Every mother deserves to give birth safely and with dignity. No doctor should ever put their hands on a patient in anger.
