Renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has accused a Lagos-based hospital of medical negligence, alleging that an excessive dose of propofol administered to her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, led to his death.
The author, in an emotional statement confirmed by her media team and reported by ARISE News on Saturday, said her son died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following complications from medical procedures carried out a day earlier at Euracare Hospital.
According to Adichie, her family had travelled to Lagos for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a mild cold but later deteriorated into a serious infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital, where plans were made for him to be flown to the United States on January 7, accompanied by medical personnel. Adichie said a team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was already on standby to receive the child.
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As part of preparations for the transfer, doctors in the US requested that Nkanu undergo a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital, which Adichie said was recommended as the most suitable facility to carry out the procedures.
She explained that on the morning of January 6, her son was taken to Euracare for the MRI scan and the insertion of a central line, a procedure requiring sedation to keep the child still. While waiting outside the theatre, Adichie said she noticed unusual activity among medical staff and immediately sensed that something had gone wrong.
She was later informed that the anaesthesiologist had administered an excessive amount of propofol, causing her son to become unresponsive. Although he was reportedly resuscitated, his condition rapidly worsened.
Adichie stated that Nkanu was placed on a ventilator, intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit. Shortly afterwards, he began experiencing seizures and subsequently suffered cardiac arrest. He died several hours later.
In her account, the author alleged that her son was not properly monitored after being sedated, describing the handling of his care as dangerously casual. She accused the anaesthesiologist involved of gross and criminal negligence, claiming basic medical protocols were ignored while caring for a critically ill child.
She further alleged that the anaesthesiologist switched off her son’s oxygen after the procedure and transported him without adequate monitoring, raising serious concerns about patient safety standards at the hospital.
Adichie said her family had brought a sick but stable child in for what were meant to be routine procedures ahead of an international medical transfer, only to lose him unexpectedly.
The writer also claimed the family later became aware of previous incidents involving the same anaesthesiologist allegedly overdosing children, questioning why the hospital continued to allow the doctor to practise.
“This must never happen to another child,” she said.
When contacted for a response, Euracare Hospital declined to comment on the allegations, stating only that any necessary communication would be handled directly between the hospital and Adichie.
Following news of Nkanu’s death, prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, publicly expressed condolences to Adichie and her family.
The allegations have since sparked renewed public debate around medical accountability, patient safety and oversight within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
