Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her family have accused a hospital in Lagos of criminal negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.
The renown Nigerian author and her sister-in-law, Dr. Anthea Nwandu have outlined several critical failures, such as excessive sedation. Adichie has alleged that her son was given an overdose of propofol to keep him still during an MRI and central line procedure.
She claim that the medical director informed her that this over-sedation directly caused her son to suffer a heart attack on January 7, 2026. There are claims that the anaesthesiologist switched off the child’s oxygen after the procedure and transported the baby to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without it.
The family further alleged that lack of oxygen led to a brain injury. The anaesthesiologist is said to have carried the unresponsive baby on his shoulder into the theatre and later to the ICU without continuous monitoring or following standard medical protocols.
The family further alleged that the hospital was aware of at least two previous cases where the same anaesthesiologist had overdosed children but allowed him to continue practicing.
Euracare Hospital expressed deep sympathy but denied the allegations, stating that the child arrived “critically ill” after treatment at two other medical facilities and that the care provided, including sedation, was in line with international standards.
Lagos State Government has ordered a thorough, independent investigation into the incident through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA).
The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) is also monitoring the situation and awaiting further details before issuing a conclusive statement.
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