Nigerian Author Accuses Hospital of Gross Negligence in Son's Death Amid Poor Healthcare Crisis
The renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has taken to social media to express her outrage and grief over the tragic death of her 21-month-old twin son, Nkanu. The young boy passed away on January 6 after a brief illness while undergoing treatment at Euracare hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Adichie's account of the events leading up to his death paints a disturbing picture of negligence and incompetence on the part of the medical staff.
According to Adichie, her son was referred to Euracare for a series of diagnostic procedures after being initially treated at another hospital. However, it is alleged that the resident anaesthesiologist administered an overdose of propofol, a sedative, which further exacerbated Nkanu's condition. The doctor's direct admission to Adichie that the anaesthesiologist had been "fatally casual and careless" has sparked outrage among the public.
The hospital in question, Euracare, claims that its staff provided standard care according to established protocols and international medical standards. However, Adichie's account suggests a stark contrast between the hospital's rhetoric and reality. The leak of her WhatsApp chat with family and friends also raises questions about the quality of care being provided by private medical facilities in Nigeria.
Nigeria's healthcare crisis is already well-documented, with a woefully inadequate doctor-to-patient ratio and a chronic lack of resources. Medical tourism has become increasingly popular among wealthier Nigerians, who often seek better-quality care abroad at exorbitant costs.
As the nation mourns the loss of Nkanu, Adichie's words serve as a powerful indictment of the systemic failures that lead to such tragedies. With the Lagos state government ordering an investigation into the matter, it remains to be seen whether meaningful reforms will be implemented to address Nigeria's abysmal healthcare crisis.
The renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has taken to social media to express her outrage and grief over the tragic death of her 21-month-old twin son, Nkanu. The young boy passed away on January 6 after a brief illness while undergoing treatment at Euracare hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Adichie's account of the events leading up to his death paints a disturbing picture of negligence and incompetence on the part of the medical staff.
According to Adichie, her son was referred to Euracare for a series of diagnostic procedures after being initially treated at another hospital. However, it is alleged that the resident anaesthesiologist administered an overdose of propofol, a sedative, which further exacerbated Nkanu's condition. The doctor's direct admission to Adichie that the anaesthesiologist had been "fatally casual and careless" has sparked outrage among the public.
The hospital in question, Euracare, claims that its staff provided standard care according to established protocols and international medical standards. However, Adichie's account suggests a stark contrast between the hospital's rhetoric and reality. The leak of her WhatsApp chat with family and friends also raises questions about the quality of care being provided by private medical facilities in Nigeria.
Nigeria's healthcare crisis is already well-documented, with a woefully inadequate doctor-to-patient ratio and a chronic lack of resources. Medical tourism has become increasingly popular among wealthier Nigerians, who often seek better-quality care abroad at exorbitant costs.
As the nation mourns the loss of Nkanu, Adichie's words serve as a powerful indictment of the systemic failures that lead to such tragedies. With the Lagos state government ordering an investigation into the matter, it remains to be seen whether meaningful reforms will be implemented to address Nigeria's abysmal healthcare crisis.