The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has said it is monitoring allegations of medical negligence surrounding the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the 21-month-old son of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege. The society’s National President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, noting that an official family statement confirmed the child died on January 7 after a brief illness. Adichie had alleged in a public statement that negligence occurred during medical procedures at a Lagos private hospital, where her son was sedated with propofol for an MRI scan and insertion of a central line, leading to complications including loss of responsiveness, seizures and cardiac arrest.
Mohammed said the hospital involved was likely to conduct its own investigation by reviewing oral and documented evidence, including patient records, while an independent panel could also be constituted if the family pursued the matter further. “The hospital involved is likely to conduct its own investigation for more facts by getting oral and documented evidence. You know the patient will have a record, whether manual or electronic, that can be printed out there. Then there may be an independent investigative panel to look further based on the allegations, depending on if the mother or relatives want to take it further,” he said. He added that any probe would verify registration status of personnel and facilities, assess compliance with approved scopes of practice and medical protocols, and determine whether negligence contributed to the incident, stressing that the NSA is awaiting more information before making further comments.