The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has called for its active involvement in the Lagos State Government’s investigation into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, son of renowned author Chimamanda Adichie.
In a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, the NSA’s National President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, welcomed the state government’s decision to probe the incident and urged that a senior and experienced anaesthetist be co-opted into the investigative panel.
“The alleged medical negligence appears to have centred around the physician anaesthetist, who was part of the team conducting the MRI procedure,” Mohammed said. “NSA strongly recommends the inclusion of a senior anaesthetist for a comprehensive review of the incident. This is an opportunity to reflect on the practice of anaesthesia in Lagos State and Nigeria by diligently implementing the panel’s recommendations.”
He further reiterated the society’s commitment to its motto, “Safety First.”
The incident has drawn nationwide attention after Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, alleged that their son died due to medical negligence at Euracare Multispecialist Hospital. Nkanu, who had been scheduled for medical evacuation abroad, reportedly developed a serious infection after initially presenting with mild symptoms.
According to Adichie, her son was sedated with what she described as an “excessive dose of propofol” during an MRI and central line procedure. She alleged that monitoring was inadequate, leading to seizures, cardiac arrest, and eventually his death on January 7.
In response to public outcry, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, the governor’s Special Adviser on Health, assured that any individual or institution found guilty of negligence or professional misconduct would face legal consequences.
The NSA’s involvement, if approved, is expected to provide technical expertise on
