Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Alleges Medical Negligence in Death of Son at Lagos Hospital

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken out in profound grief following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, one of her twin boys, accusing a Lagos hospital of criminal negligence that she says led to his preventable death.

In a heartfelt personal statement, originally shared privately with family and close friends before circulating publicly and confirmed by her media team, Ms Adichie described the devastating sequence of events that unfolded on 6 January 2026 at Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The family had been spending Christmas in Lagos when young Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a cold. His condition rapidly worsened into a serious infection, leading to admission at Atlantis Hospital. With arrangements in place for him to travel to the United States the following day, accompanied by a medical team, a specialist team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was awaiting his arrival. They had requested a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan, while the Nigerian medical team decided to insert a central line to facilitate intravenous medications during the flight.

Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare, which was described as the best facility for these procedures. On the morning of 6 January, Nkanu was carried into the hospital in his father’s arms. He was to be sedated with propofol to remain still during the MRI and central line insertion.

Ms Adichie, waiting outside the theatre, recalled seeing medical staff, including a senior doctor, rushing in — a sign that something had gone terribly wrong. Shortly afterwards, she was informed that the anaesthesiologist had administered an excessive dose of propofol, causing Nkanu to become unresponsive. He was resuscitated but subsequently intubated, placed on a ventilator, and transferred to the intensive care unit. Seizures and cardiac arrest followed — complications her son had never experienced before. Within hours, Nkanu had passed away.

In her statement, Ms Adichie asserted that her son “would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.” She alleged a series of critical failures: Nkanu was not monitored after receiving the sedative, with the anaesthesiologist casually carrying him on his shoulder to the theatre, making it impossible to determine when he became unresponsive. She questioned how a sedated, sick child could be left without proper observation.

Furthermore, after the central line procedure, Ms Adichie claimed the anaesthesiologist switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again carried him on his shoulder to the ICU, describing the actions as “fatally casual and careless.” She labelled the anaesthesiologist’s conduct as criminally negligent, stating that no proper protocols were followed.

The family brought in a child who was unwell but stable, expecting only routine procedures ahead of travel. Instead, they lost their “beautiful little boy” forever. Ms Adichie wrote: “It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.”

She also revealed that the family had since learned of two previous cases involving the same anaesthesiologist allegedly overdosing children, questioning why Euracare allowed him to continue working. “This must never happen to another child,” she urged.

Euracare Multispecialist Hospital has expressed its deepest sympathies to Ms Adichie and her family, acknowledging the “profound and unimaginable loss.” In a statement, the hospital described some circulating reports as containing inaccuracies and emphasised that Nkanu arrived critically ill after treatment at other facilities. It stated that care was provided in line with international standards, and a detailed internal investigation has commenced in accordance with clinical governance protocols.

The Lagos State Government has responded by ordering a thorough, independent, and transparent probe into the circumstances, with the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) leading the inquiry. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated the state’s zero tolerance for medical negligence.

Ms Adichie, 48, and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, are also parents to Nkanu’s surviving twin and an older daughter. The family has requested privacy during this time of mourning, as prominent figures including President Bola Tinubu have offered condolences.

This heartbreaking case has sparked widespread concern about patient safety and standards in private healthcare facilities, particularly for vulnerable children. Investigations are ongoing, and calls for accountability continue to grow.