A combined photo of Chimamanda Adichie and Euracare Hospital logo
By Victory Oghene
The media has been abuzz with the demise of the son of one of Nigeria’s celebrated authors, and a visiting Professor at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Chimamanda Adichie.
While Chimamanda accused the Lagos based hospital, Euracare Multispecialist Hospital of negligence culminating to the demise of her son, Nkanu, the hospital though sympathied with Chimamanda, absolved itself of any wrong doing
Chimamanda while paying tribute to her son, wrote “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.We were in Lagos for Christmas. Nkanu had what we first thought was just a cold, but soon turned into a very serious infection and he was admitted to Atlantis hospital.
“He was to travel to the US the next day, January 7th, accompanied by Travelling Doctors. A team at Johns Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore. The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. Atlantis hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.
She further stated “The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms. We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line procedure.
I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater and immediately knew something had happened. A short time later, Dr M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated. But suddenly Nkanu was on a ventilator, he was intubated and placed in the ICU. The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was gone.
“It turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol. The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive.
“How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to monitor him? Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!
“The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child. No proper protocol was followed.
“We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.
Chimamanda added that “We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child. Chimamanda sounded with a note of finality.
While reacting to the death of Nkanu, Euracare Hospital expressed condolences to Chimamanda Adichie’s family while disputing allegations of medical negligence surrounding her son’s death.
Euracare expressed deep sympathy and described the loss as profound and heartbreaking.
In a statement issued by its management, the hospital conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the parents and extended family, noting that the death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy that goes beyond words.
While empathising with the family’s grief, the hospital also addressed what it described as inaccuracies in some reports circulating about the circumstances surrounding the child’s care. Euracare emphasised that it is a reputable medical facility specialising in complex care and staffed by an internationally trained and experienced clinical team.
The statement read, “We extend our deepest sympathies to Chimamanda Adichie and family on the demise of their son and acknowledge the profound and unimaginable loss they are experiencing during this deeply distressing time. The loss of a child is beyond words, and we offer our most heartfelt condolences to his parents and the entire family.
“We find it necessary, for the record, to clarify that some of the reports currently being circulated contain inaccuracies.
“Our facility is a reputable centre for complex medical care, led by an internationally trained and experienced clinical team. The patient, who was critically ill, was referred to our facility for specific diagnostic procedures after receiving treatment for a period of time at two paediatric centres. Upon arrival, our medical team immediately provided care in line with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards, including the administration of sedation where clinically indicated.
“In the course of his care, our team worked collaboratively with external medical professionals, as recommended by the family, ensuring all required clinical support was provided,” the statement added.
Despite these efforts, the hospital said, the child passed away less than 24 hours after presenting at the facility. “As medical professionals, we share deeply in this loss. Our priority remains compassion, patient safety, and ensuring that the matter is handled responsibly while respecting the family’s privacy”, the hospital concluded.
Euracare emphasized that it has initiated a detailed internal review to examine all aspects of the case, underscoring its commitment to transparency, patient safety and responsible engagement with clinical and regulatory processes.
