“My Son Was Taken by Negligence” — Chimamanda Adichie Accuses Lagos Hospital After Tragic Death
Renowned Nigerian Author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has accused a Lagos-based Private Medical facility of grave Medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, during a medical procedure in Lagos.
Global Mirror News gathered that the toddler died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after suffering severe complications while undergoing an MRI scan and insertion of a central line at Euracare Hospital.
Sources close to the family disclosed that Nkanu had earlier been admitted to Atlantis Hospital after what initially appeared to be a mild cold developed into a serious infection.
He was scheduled to be flown to the United States the next day, where a specialist Medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was already on standby to receive him.
As part of preparations for the emergency evacuation, Doctors requested an MRI and lumbar puncture test, as well as the placement of a central line to administer medication during the journey.
Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital for the procedures.
In a statement confirmed by her media team and obtained by Global Mirror News, Adichie said her son was sedated with propofol for the procedures but was allegedly not properly monitored afterward.
She recounted that while waiting outside the operating theatre, she noticed Doctors rushing in, a moment that made her immediately fear something had gone wrong.
She was later told that the Anesthesiologist had given her son an excessive dose of propofol, causing him to become unresponsive.
Soon after, Nkanu was placed on a ventilator, intubated, and moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
He later developed seizures and suffered cardiac arrest. Despite medical efforts, he died a few hours later.
Global Mirror News further gathered that Adichie accused the anesthesiologist of criminal negligence, alleging that her son was left unmonitored after being sedated and was even carried without proper medical support or oxygen.
“How can you sedate a sick child and not monitor him? No proper protocol was followed,” she said, describing the handling of her son’s care as reckless and dangerous.
The grieving mother also alleged that the same anesthesiologist had previously been linked to at least two similar cases involving overdosing of children, questioning why the hospital allegedly allowed him to continue practicing.
When contacted by Global Mirror News, Euracare Hospital declined to give a detailed response, saying only that any further comments would be handled directly between the hospital and the Adichie family.
The tragic incident has ignited widespread concern across Nigeria over patient safety, private hospital regulation, and medical accountability, with calls for a full investigation.
Several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, have publicly sent condolences to Adichie and her family.
