Chimamanda Adichie alleges hospital anesthesiologist’s negligence for son’s death

Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said a medical failures involving an anesthesiology at a private hospital in Lagos caused her son’s death.

Recall that the news of the child’s death was reported earlier in the week.

However, Adichie in a statement said her son, Nkanu, would still be alive “but for an incident” that occurred at Euracare Hospital on January 6, 2026.

She explained that the family had travelled to Lagos for Christmas when the child developed a mild illness which later worsened, he was admitted to Atlantis Hospital, where doctors planned his transfer to the United States for specialist care the following day.

Adichie said a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was expecting her son and had requested diagnostic tests, including an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture.

She said Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare Hospital to carry out the procedures, as well as the insertion of a central line ahead of the planned flight.

On the morning of 6 January, she said her son was taken to Euracare Hospital and sedated ahead of the procedures.

She said she was waiting outside the operating theatre when she noticed medical staff rushing inside.

She said she was later informed that her son had become unresponsive after being given an anesthetic drug and was later resuscitated.

“He was subsequently placed on a ventilator and transferred to the intensive care unit. He later developed seizures and suffered cardiac arrest. He died hours later.”

The acclaimed writer alleged that her son was not properly monitored after sedation and established medical protocols were not followed.

She also raised concerns about the conduct of the anesthesiologist involved, describing it as “criminally negligent”.

Adichie further claimed that she has since learned of previous cases in which children were allegedly overdosed by the same doctor, questioning why he was allowed to continue practicing.

“We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came for routine procedures. Instead, our beautiful little boy was gone.”

Euracare Hospital has not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

Adichie called for investigation into the matter to prevent similar incidents involving other children.