Celebrated writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a hospital of neglecting her one-year-old son, leading to his passing after a brief illness. The representatives of Ms. Adichie, aged 48 and known for acclaimed literary works such as Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, disclosed that her son Nkanu Nnamdi passed away last Wednesday. They expressed the deep devastation experienced by Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, due to this loss.
Following the tragic incident, Adichie attributed her son’s demise to Euracare Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, where he breathed his last on January 6. She claimed that despite her son being admitted to the hospital with a severe infection and prepared for transfer to Johns Hopkins Hospital, an excessive dose of propofol led to his unresponsiveness, requiring resuscitation.
Allegedly, after the resuscitation, the child was placed on a ventilator and admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he eventually succumbed to seizures and cardiac arrest. Adichie raised concerns about the lack of proper monitoring post-sedation, questioning the hospital’s negligence in caring for her son.
In response, Euracare Hospital refuted the allegations of negligence by its anaesthetists, expressing condolences to the grieving family. They defended their reputation as a distinguished medical facility with a highly skilled clinical team, emphasizing their adherence to international medical standards and the initiation of a thorough investigation into the matter. The hospital reiterated its commitment to transparency, patient safety, and supporting the family during this distressing period.