Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie alleges medical negligence in the circumstances surrounding the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who dies in Lagos on January 7, 2026. She says her son would be alive today but for what happens during a medical procedure at a private hospital in the city.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Adichie makes the allegation in a detailed statement later confirmed by her media team. The statement, initially shared privately with family and close friends, explains that the family is in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu develops what they believe is a mild cold that later becomes a serious infection requiring hospital care.
Adichie explains that Nkanu is admitted to Atlantis Hospital as his condition worsens. Plans are already in place for him to travel to the United States the next day, January 7, accompanied by specialist doctors. She says a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is prepared to receive him and requests a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan before the transfer.
She says Atlantis Hospital refers the family to Euracare Hospital, described to them as the best facility to carry out the required procedures. Mediaplusng.com reports that Adichie states doctors also decide to insert a central line to prepare the child for the planned medical flight to the United States.
According to her account, Nkanu is sedated to prevent movement during the MRI scan and central line procedure. Adichie says she waits outside the theatre when she suddenly notices unusual activity and medical staff rushing into the room, immediately sensing that something has gone wrong.
She states that doctors later inform her that her son is given an excessive dose of the sedative propofol by an anesthesiologist and becomes unresponsive. Although he is initially resuscitated, she says his condition rapidly deteriorates. Nkanu is placed on a ventilator, admitted to intensive care, and later develops seizures before suffering cardiac arrest.
Adichie alleges that her son is not properly monitored after sedation, a lapse she describes as a serious breach of medical protocol. She claims the anesthesiologist fails to follow standard procedures for monitoring a sedated child and handles the situation in a careless manner.
In her words, the family brings in a child who is sick but stable for what she describes as basic medical procedures, only to lose him unexpectedly within hours. She describes the experience as devastating and says the pain of losing her son is beyond words.
The author further alleges that the anesthesiologist involved has a history of similar incidents, claiming the family later learns of previous cases involving children. She questions why the hospital continues to allow the doctor to practice if such reports exist.
Adichie calls for accountability and insists that what happens to her son must not happen to another child. She stresses the need for stricter monitoring, enforcement of medical standards, and stronger patient safety measures in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
As of the time of this report, the hospitals mentioned have not publicly responded to the allegations. The incident has sparked renewed public debate on medical safety, hospital regulation, and accountability in Nigeria’s private healthcare sector, with many calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.
