Medical Negligence Killed My Son at Lagos Hospital, Chimamanda Adichie alleges

Medical Negligence Allegations by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

On January 10, 2026, celebrated Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie publicly revealed the tragic death of her young son, Nkanu, alleging that medical negligence at a private hospital in Lagos was responsible.

This marks the first time she has spoken in detail about the incident, which has since sparked widespread concern and calls for accountability within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

According to Adichie’s account, her family had traveled to Lagos for Christmas when her son developed what initially appeared to be a mild illness. His condition worsened, and he was admitted to Atlantis Hospital, where doctors planned to transfer him to the United States for specialist care at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. The American medical team had requested diagnostic tests, including an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture, which Atlantis Hospital referred to Euracare Hospital to perform.

On January 6, Nkanu was taken to Euracare Hospital for the procedures. Adichie recounted that he was sedated ahead of the tests, but shortly afterward, medical staff rushed into the operating theatre. She was informed that her son had become unresponsive after being administered an anaesthetic drug. Though resuscitated and placed on a ventilator, he later developed seizures, suffered cardiac arrest, and tragically passed away within hours.

In her statement, Adichie alleged that her son was not properly monitored after sedation and that established medical protocols were ignored. She described the conduct of the anaesthesiologist as “criminally negligent” and claimed to have since learned of previous cases in which children were allegedly overdosed by the same doctor. She questioned why such a practitioner was still permitted to operate, emphasizing that her son had been stable and scheduled to travel abroad the following day for routine procedures.

Euracare Hospital has not issued a response to the allegations, and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has yet to make a public statement. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The tragedy has drawn national attention, with President Bola Tinubu extending condolences to Adichie and her family.

Adichie explained that she chose to speak out not only to seek justice for her son but also to prevent similar incidents from happening to other children. Her words underscore a broader concern about medical standards and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system, raising urgent questions about oversight, professional conduct, and patient safety.

This case continues to resonate deeply across Nigeria and beyond, as the loss of a child under such circumstances highlights the devastating consequences of alleged medical negligence and the pressing need for systemic reform.