The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has temporarily suspended three doctors—Tosin Majekodunmi (Medical Director at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital), Titus Ogundare (anaesthesiologist at Euracare), and Atinuke Uwajeh (Chief Medical Director at Atlantis Paediatric Hospital)—over alleged medical negligence and misconduct linked to the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of author Chimamanda Adichie and her doctor husband, Ivara Esege.
This followed a January 16 complaint, investigated by an MDCN panel during its February 17-18 session in Abuja. The panel found prima facie evidence of negligence against the trio and misconduct by 10 other Atlantis practitioners, referring all cases to the Disciplinary Tribunal for full hearings. Suspensions are interim, with no final liability determined yet.
The toddler died in January at a Lagos hospital after complications during procedures at Euracare, including sedation with propofol, poor monitoring, dosing errors, no oxygen support, staffing shortages, and delayed response, per the family’s legal notice via SAN Kemi Pinheiro. Euracare denied fault, claiming the child was critically ill on arrival and care met standards.
Lagos State ordered probes by HEFAMAA and MDCN into hospital practices and safety. A magistrate’s inquest, treating the state as “bereaved,” continues; it adjourned to April 14, with autopsy results key and the family set to call five expert witnesses on negligence claims. MDCN vows transparency in upcoming tribunal proceedings.
