Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has alleged medical negligence in connection with the tragic death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
According to a report by ARISE News, Adichie’s media team confirmed that she authored a statement detailing the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, originally shared privately with family and close friends.
In her statement, Adichie revealed that Nkanu was taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line. During the procedure, he was sedated with propofol but was not properly monitored afterward, leading to complications such as loss of responsiveness, seizures, and ultimately cardiac arrest. “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” she stated.
Adichie explained that her family had been in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what they initially thought was a cold, which later escalated into a severe infection. “We were in Lagos for Christmas. Nkanu had what we first thought was just a cold but soon turned into a very serious infection, and he was admitted to Atlantis Hospital,” she said.
She noted that Nkanu was scheduled to travel to the U.S. the next day, January 7, accompanied by medical professionals, with a team at Johns Hopkins waiting to receive him in Baltimore. The Hopkins team had requested a lumbar puncture test and an MRI.
Following a referral from Atlantis Hospital, Adichie and her family arrived at Euracare Hospital for the procedures. “The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis Hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms,” she recounted.
Adichie described a harrowing moment outside the theatre when she saw medical staff rushing in, indicating that something had gone wrong. “I saw people, including Dr. M, rushing into the theatre and immediately knew something had happened,” she stated.
She was later informed that her son had been given an excessive dose of propofol by the anesthesiologist. “A short time later, Dr. M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated,” she explained.
Nkanu was placed on a ventilator and admitted to intensive care, where he suffered seizures and cardiac arrest. “But suddenly, Nkanu was on a ventilator; he was intubated and placed in the ICU. The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was gone,” she lamented.
Adichie further alleged that her son was not monitored after sedation, describing the anesthesiologist’s actions as “criminally negligent.” “It turns out that Nkanu was never monitored after being given too much propofol. The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theatre, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive,” she said.
She expressed her anguish at losing her son, stating, “We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day for what I described as basic procedures, but lost him unexpectedly. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.”
Adichie also revealed that they had learned of previous incidents involving the same anesthesiologist. “We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working?” she questioned, emphasising, “This must never happen to another child.”
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for Euracare Hospital stated, “Whatever information you need, you get it between us and Chimamanda. Thank you.”
PUNCH Online previously reported that Nkanu died following a brief illness. Following the announcement of his death, many prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, expressed their condolences to Adichie and her family.
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