By John Kariuki
Mediheal Group of Hospitals has issued a formal cease-and-desist notice to German media organizations ZDF Frontal, Spiegel, and Deutsche Welle through their legal representatives, Conrad Law Advocates LLP, following a publication dated 11 April 2025 which the hospital claims contains defamatory assertions.
The article, titled “Kidney Surgery in Kenya: Dubious company arranges transplants,” is alleged to have presented misleading narratives that have caused considerable reputational damage to Mediheal, both within Kenya and internationally. Although the piece ostensibly focuses on an external intermediary, the hospital argues that it is repeatedly and unfairly implicated through insinuation and unverified allegations.
According to Mediheal’s legal counsel, the publication accuses the hospital of complicity in organ trafficking, accepting illicit payments, bypassing informed consent procedures, and performing high-risk surgeries under unethical conditions. The law firm further criticizes the article’s failure to contact the hospital for a right of reply prior to publication, calling it a breach of journalistic ethics and fair reporting standards.
Mediheal maintains that it is a duly licensed and accredited medical institution operating under the oversight of Kenyan regulatory authorities. The hospital affirms its adherence to both local and international standards, including the guidelines set by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly in matters relating to nephrology, dialysis, and organ transplantation.
The hospital emphasizes that all transplant procedures are conducted with comprehensive informed consent, independent psychological assessments, compatibility testing, and documented pre-authorization by relevant government bodies. It also reiterates that donors are not sourced or assigned by the institution but come forward voluntarily, subject to strict eligibility and compliance protocols.
In a related development, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kenya released a press statement on 15 April 2025 refuting the existence of any substantiated cases of organ trafficking in the country. The statement confirmed that transplant services remain legal and regulated, and that Mediheal is one of several institutions currently undergoing routine compliance audits, none of which suggest wrongdoing.
Mediheal’s legal team has also taken issue with what it terms the unlawful publication of sensitive personal data in the German media reports. These include identities and health information of donors and recipients, allegedly shared without consent — a violation of Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 2019.
The hospital contends that such disclosures, combined with speculative reporting, have inflicted tangible economic losses, created undue panic among patients, and irreparably harmed the institution’s image. The law firm, acting on behalf of Mediheal, is calling for immediate remedial action, including a public apology, withdrawal of the report, and compensation for damages.
While reiterating support for responsible journalism and freedom of expression, Mediheal argues that the article in question strays into deliberate misinformation and character assassination. Failure by the media houses to act within seven days will, the hospital warns, compel it to initiate legal proceedings to seek redress.
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