Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Alleges Hospital Negligence in Death of 21-Month-Old Son in Lagos
Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos-based hospital of alleged medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, describing the loss as one she will “never survive.”
In a deeply personal statement shared with family members, Adichie said her son would still be alive if not for what she described as a critical incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6.
According to her account, the family was in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a mild cold but later escalated into a severe infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States the following day under the care of traveling doctors, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, prepared to receive him.
She said the U.S. team requested a lumbar puncture and an MRI, while the Nigerian medical team also planned to insert a central line ahead of the flight. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital for the procedures.
Adichie stated that Nkanu was sedated ahead of the MRI and central line insertion. While waiting outside the theatre, she noticed doctors rushing in and sensed something had gone wrong. She was later informed that the anesthesiologist allegedly administered an excessive dose of propofol, causing her son to become unresponsive.
Although doctors reportedly resuscitated him, Nkanu was placed on a ventilator, intubated, and moved to the ICU. Adichie said he later suffered seizures and cardiac arrest—conditions she noted he had never experienced before. He died a few hours later.
The author’s statement has sparked public concern and calls for accountability, though the hospital involved has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
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