The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has urged the Lagos State Government to include its members in the ongoing investigation into alleged medical negligence surrounding the death of the son of celebrated author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The call was made by the National President of the NSA, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. Mohammed commended the Lagos State Government for ordering a probe into the incident and welcomed the decision of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to commence investigations, in line with the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to him, the allegation of medical negligence appears to centre on the role of a physician anaesthetist who was part of the medical team involved in administering sedation during an MRI procedure. He stressed that, in the interest of thoroughness and professional balance, the NSA strongly recommends the co-option of a senior and experienced physician anaesthetist into the investigative panel.
Mohammed described the incident as deeply tragic but noted that it also presents an opportunity to critically review anaesthesia practice in Lagos State and across Nigeria, with a view to strengthening patient safety through the diligent implementation of the panel’s recommendations. He reaffirmed the NSA’s commitment to its guiding principle of “Safety First.”
NAN reports that the deceased, 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, was the son of Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege. The child reportedly died on January 7 following a brief illness. In a statement issued by GLG Communications on behalf of the family, Omawumi Ogbe said they were devastated by the loss and appealed for privacy during the period of mourning.
Subsequently, Adichie, in a widely circulated social media post, accused Euracare Multispecialist Hospital, Lagos, of negligence leading to her son’s death. She stated that Nkanu, who was scheduled to be flown abroad for treatment, initially developed what appeared to be a cold that later progressed into a severe infection.
She explained that upon arrival at the hospital, doctors informed the family that sedation would be required to prevent movement during MRI and central line procedures. Adichie, however, alleged that her son was not adequately monitored after being given what she described as an excessive dose of propofol by the hospital’s anaesthesiologist. She claimed that his condition rapidly worsened, resulting in loss of responsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest, culminating in his death.
In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu, through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the incident. The state government assured the public that any individual or institution found guilty of negligence, professional misconduct, or regulatory breaches would be sanctioned in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.