Maroc - NOTCHNEWSONLINE.COM.NG - A La Une - Hier 08:35

Beyond Genaralization: Upholding Medical Accountability In Nigeria

By Dr Samuel Chukwudi OjiakorThe death of Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, one of the twin sons of the renowned author, Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege on 7th January 2026 is an undeniable and unforgettable tragedy that will continue to mount intense scrutiny on Nigeria’s healthcare services.This harrowing incidence no doubts would have a long-term devastating emotional draining not only on the grieving families but also on the medical community because medical professionals are wired to have a strong connection to their patients and fundamentally, no medical practitioner would ever engage in maleficence by any means. Meanwhile, I join millions of sympathizers, friends and associates across the world to offer my deepest condolences to the families of Adichie’s and Esege’s while also praying for peaceful repose of the Lad’s saintly soul.The public outrage that greeted this tragic incident was phenomenal and not unexpected given the personality involved and the preliminary information available to the public nevertheless, some of the most concerning remarks were those also coming from respected prominent voices in the society, including some senior lawyers who ordinarily should know better attempting to paint the entire medical profession with a “brush of impunity, incompetence and unaccountability” which I considered uncharitable, treacherous and incendiary to say the least.One of the articles listed about 50 cases of medical malpractices handled over a period of time, yes offenders if established should be punished and victims commensurately compensated however, failure to acknowledge the daunting environment that the Nigerian medical professional operates which included overwork and exhaustion: the current statistics of