Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has alleged that medical negligence led to the death of her 21 month old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following a medical procedure in Lagos.
In a statement confirmed by her media representatives, Adichie said the account was initially shared privately with family and close friends before becoming public. She explained that her son had been taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line after developing a serious infection while the family was in Lagos for the Christmas holiday.
According to Adichie, Nkanu had been admitted earlier at Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States the next day with medical support, where a team at Johns Hopkins Hospital was prepared to receive him. The Lagos medical team recommended further tests, including an MRI, which necessitated sedation.
She alleged that during the procedure, her son was given an excessive dose of propofol and was not adequately monitored afterward. She said the child became unresponsive, developed seizures, and later suffered cardiac arrest despite resuscitation efforts.
Adichie described the actions of the anesthesiologist involved as criminally negligent, alleging that standard monitoring and safety protocols were not followed. She also claimed the family later learned of previous similar incidents involving the same medical professional.
When contacted, Euracare Hospital declined to comment in detail, stating that the matter was being handled privately between the hospital and the family.
The author said her family brought in a child who was ill but stable for routine procedures and instead suffered an unimaginable loss, adding that the incident must never be allowed to happen again.
