Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused Euracare Hospital of medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
Adichie, in a statement confirmed by her media team to ARISE News, said she initially shared the account privately with family and close friends. She explained that her son was taken to Euracare Hospital on January 6 for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line. During these procedures, Nkanu was sedated with propofol but, according to Adichie, was not properly monitored, leading to unresponsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest.
“My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” she said. Adichie detailed that her family had been in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what they initially thought was a cold, which quickly turned into a severe infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States the following day for further care, with a team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore awaiting him.
Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare, described as the best facility for the procedures. Adichie recounted waiting outside the theatre while her son was sedated, witnessing staff rush in, and realizing something had gone wrong. She said the anesthesiologist administered an excessive dose of propofol, leaving Nkanu unresponsive and requiring emergency resuscitation.
“He was intubated and placed in the ICU. Soon after, he had seizures and suffered cardiac arrest. Hours later, Nkanu was gone,” she said, calling the experience a “living nightmare.”
Adichie accused the anesthesiologist of criminal negligence, claiming her son was not monitored and proper protocols were ignored. She also alleged that the same anesthesiologist had previously overdosed other children, questioning why he was still allowed to work at the hospital.
Euracare Hospital has yet to provide a detailed response. A spokesperson said: “Whatever information you need, you get it between us and Chimamanda. Thank you.”
Adichie’s statement underscores her call for accountability and safety measures to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other children.
