Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has publicly accused Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos of medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, saying a series of alleged procedural errors and lapses in care contributed to the toddler’s passing earlier this month.
Adichie’s detailed account, shared in a statement confirmed by her media team, says her son was admitted to a Lagos facility after falling ill during a Christmas visit with family. What began as symptoms believed to be a cold reportedly worsened into a serious infection, resulting in his referral from Atlantis Hospital to Euracare Hospital for a scheduled MRI scan, lumbar puncture and insertion of a central line ahead of planned medical travel to the United States.
According to her narrative, Nkanu was sedated with propofol for the procedures on January 6, but was not continuously monitored afterward, leading to complications. Adichie said she saw medical staff rushing into the operating theatre and was later informed her son had become unresponsive after receiving a sedative overdose, before being resuscitated.
The child was reportedly placed on a ventilator and admitted to intensive care, where he suffered seizures and cardiac arrest — conditions his mother says he had never previously experienced — and died several hours later on January 7.
In the statement, she questioned the conduct of the attending anaesthesiologist, alleging he failed to monitor the child, carried him without continuous observation, and switched off his oxygen while moving him between hospital units. She described the actions as “criminally negligent” and said she later learned of prior incidents allegedly involving the same doctor.
Source : Thisdaylive, Businessday & Okay News
