Anaesthetists seek role in Lagos probe of Adichie’s son’s death

The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has urged the Lagos State Government to include its members in the ongoing probe into alleged medical negligence linked to the death of the infant son of celebrated writer, Chimamanda Adichie.

The call was made by the society’s National President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

Mohammed welcomed the Lagos State Government’s decision to order a formal investigation into the incident, noting that the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) had already commenced its work following the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to him, preliminary concerns suggest that the case “appears to have centred around the Physician Anaesthetist who is a member of the team that carried out the procedure to facilitate MRI.”

He stressed the need for specialist input, adding:“In this regard, the NSA recommends very strongly that a senior and experienced Physician Anaesthetist should be co-opted into the investigative panel for a comprehensive review of the incident.”

Describing the development as deeply tragic, Mohammed said the case presented an opportunity for the health sector to reassess anaesthesia practice in the state and nationwide.

“This incident is a sad one indeed but we have an opportunity to reflect on the practice of Anaesthesia in Lagos State and Nigeria by diligently implementing the recommendations of the investigative panel,” he said.

The NSA president further reaffirmed the society’s dedication to professional standards, assuring that it remained guided by its long-standing principle of “Safety First”.

NAN reports that the deceased, 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, was the child of Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege. The toddler reportedly died on January 7 following a brief illness.

A statement issued by Omawumi Ogbe of GLG Communications on behalf of the family said, “The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.”

Subsequently, Adichie published a detailed account on social media, accusing Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos of negligence in the handling of her son’s treatment.

She explained that Nkanu, who was scheduled to travel abroad for medical care, initially showed symptoms believed to be a cold, which later developed into what she described as “a very serious infection.”

According to her account, upon arrival at the hospital, doctors advised that the child would require sedation to prevent movement during an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line.

However, she alleged that her son was inadequately monitored after receiving what she described as an “excessive dose of propofol” administered by the hospital’s anaesthesiologist.

She claimed the child’s condition worsened rapidly, resulting in loss of responsiveness, seizures and cardiac arrest, which ultimately led to his death the following day.

Reacting to the allegations, Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement released through his Special Adviser on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, ordered a full investigation to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident.

The Lagos State Government assured the public that any person or health facility found guilty of negligence, professional misconduct or regulatory breaches would be dealt with in line with existing laws and regulations.

(NAN)