Chimamanda Adichie Accuses Lagos Hospital of Negligence in Son’s Death

Chimamanda Adichie Accuses Lagos Hospital of Negligence in Son’s Death
Adichie said that on the morning of January 6, Nkanu was taken to Euracare and sedated with propofol to prevent movement during the MRI and central line insertion
Alleged that her son was not properly monitored after sedation

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has publicly accused Euracare Hospital, Lagos, of negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, stating that he would still be alive if not for what she described as a critical incident at the hospital on January 6.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that in ama deeply emotional account shared with family and close friends and later made public, Adichie said her son developed what initially appeared to be a mild cold while the family was in Lagos for Christmas, but the illness later progressed into a severe infection.

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According to her, Nkanu was first admitted to Atlantis Hospital, where arrangements were already in place for him to be flown to the United States the following day, accompanied by travelling doctors, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital prepared to receive him.

She explained that as part of preparations for the transfer, doctors requested several procedures, including an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital to carry out the procedures.

Chimamanda Adichie Accuses Lagos Hospital of Negligence in Son’s Death

Adichie said that on the morning of January 6, Nkanu was taken to Euracare and sedated with propofol to prevent movement during the MRI and central line insertion. She recounted becoming alarmed after observing unusual activity as medical staff rushed into the procedure room.

She was later informed, she said, that her son had been administered an excessive dose of propofol, became unresponsive, and had to be resuscitated.

Following the incident, Nkanu was placed on a ventilator, intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit. Adichie said he then began experiencing seizures and cardiac arrest, conditions she noted he had never previously suffered. He died several hours later.

The author alleged that her son was not properly monitored after sedation, describing the conduct of the anesthesiologist involved as careless and criminally negligent.

She further claimed that the same doctor had previously overdosed other children and questioned why he was still allowed to practise.

Adichie called for full accountability, stressing that her decision to speak out was driven by the need to prevent similar tragedies and to ensure that no other family suffers such a loss under comparable circumstances.

As of the time of reporting, Euracare Hospital has not publicly responded to the allegations.