By Joe Udo
LAGOS (CONVERSEER) – Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has detailed how her son, Nkanu, initially treated for a worsening infection at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, was taken to Euracare on January 6 for a lumbar puncture, MRI, and central line ahead of a planned air transfer to Johns Hopkins.
Adichie alleged the anesthesiologist gave too much propofol without monitoring, leading to unresponsiveness, seizures, cardiac arrest, and his death on January 7; she also cited two prior overdose cases by the same doctor. Euracare denied negligence, stating Nkanu arrived critically ill and received protocol-based care from its international team, while launching an internal probe.
Detailing how her 21-month-old son died, Adichie said, “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.
“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 theatre. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theatre 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 theatre, so nobody knew 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.
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“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,” the statement which was originally sent privately to family members and a few close friends, read.
The tragedy has drawn condolences from Nigerian leaders and highlighted concerns over healthcare oversight.
