Chimamanda Adichie accuses Euracare Hospital Anesthesiologist of negligence in son’s death

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who recently lost her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, has released a deeply emotional statement detailing the circumstances surrounding his death in Lagos.

Very Nigerian confirmed the authenticity of the statement through Adichie’s media team, who disclosed that the message was originally shared privately with family members and a few close friends before finding its way into the public space.

In the statement, Adichie said her son’s death followed what she described as a critical incident at Euracare Hospital, Lagos, on January 6, 2026.

According to her account, the family had travelled to Lagos for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu developed symptoms initially thought to be a common cold.

His condition, however, deteriorated into what was later identified as a serious infection, leading to his admission at Atlantis Hospital.

She disclosed that arrangements had already been concluded for the child to be medically evacuated to the United States on January 7, accompanied by travelling doctors, with a specialist team at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, prepared to receive him.

As part of the preparations for the evacuation, the Johns Hopkins team requested an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture, while the Nigerian medical team also decided to insert a central line to aid intravenous medication during the flight.

Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital, reportedly for the procedures.

Adichie recounted that on the morning of January 6, they arrived at Euracare with Nkanu carried in his father’s arms.

She said she was informed the child would need to be sedated to prevent movement during the MRI and central line procedure.

While waiting outside the theatre, she noticed unusual activity and medical staff rushing in, which immediately raised her concern.

“A short time later,” she said, “I was told that Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, became unresponsive, and was resuscitated.”

She stated that her son, who had never previously experienced seizures or cardiac complications, was suddenly placed on a ventilator, intubated, transferred to the ICU, and later developed seizures before going into cardiac arrest. He died some hours later.

Adichie alleged that her son was never properly monitored after being administered an excessive dose of propofol, adding that no one could determine when he became unresponsive.

She further claimed that after the central line procedure, the anesthesiologist switched off the child’s oxygen and physically carried him to the ICU, a decision she described as reckless.

“The anesthesiologist was criminally negligent,” Adichie wrote, accusing him of being “fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child” and failing to follow established medical protocols.

She lamented that the family brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled for overseas treatment the next day, only to lose him during what were meant to be routine procedures.

Describing the loss as her “worst nightmare,” Adichie said she had since learned of two previous cases allegedly involving the same anesthesiologist overdosing children and questioned why he was allowed to continue practising.

“This must never happen to another child,” she said.

Neither Euracare Hospital nor the medical personnel mentioned have issued an official response as of the time of filing this report.

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