The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has asked to be involved in the Lagos State Government’s investigation into the alleged medical negligence surrounding the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, son of renowned author Chimamanda Adichie.
In a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, the NSA National President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, commended the Lagos State Government for ordering a probe into the incident. He expressed satisfaction that the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency had commenced investigations following the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Prof. Mohammed noted that the allegations appeared to centre on the physician anaesthetist who was part of the medical team that carried out procedures to facilitate an MRI. He therefore recommended that a senior and experienced physician anaesthetist be co-opted into the investigative panel to ensure a thorough and professional review.
Describing the incident as deeply tragic, he said it also presented an opportunity to critically examine anaesthesia practice in Lagos State and Nigeria, with a view to improving patient safety. He reaffirmed the NSA’s commitment to its guiding principle of “Safety First.”
NAN reports that Nkanu Nnamdi, whom Adichie had with her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, died on January 7 after a brief illness. A statement issued by Omawumi Ogbe of GLG Communications said the family was devastated by the loss and requested privacy during the difficult period.
The issue gained public attention after Adichie shared a viral write-up on social media on Saturday, accusing Euracare Multispecialist Hospital, Lagos, of negligence leading to her son’s death. She explained that her son had initially developed what seemed like a cold, which later turned into a severe infection, and that he was scheduled to be flown abroad for treatment.
According to her, doctors at the hospital said the child needed to be sedated to prevent movement during MRI and central line procedures. She alleged that he was administered an excessive dose of propofol and was not properly monitored afterwards, leading to seizures, loss of responsiveness and cardiac arrest. He died the following day.
Reacting to the allegations, Governor Sanwo-Olu, through his Special Adviser on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, ordered a full investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the child’s death. The Lagos State Government assured the public that anyone found culpable of negligence, professional misconduct or regulatory violations would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
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