Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken publicly about the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, saying he would still be alive but for what she described as a critical incident at Euracare Hospital in Lagos on January 6.
Adichie explained that her account was initially shared privately with family members and close friends before becoming public.
According to her, the family had been in Lagos for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu developed symptoms that first appeared to be a mild cold but later progressed into a serious infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital, where doctors planned for him to be flown to the United States the following day. A medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital was reportedly prepared to receive him, with travelling doctors arranged to accompany the child.
As part of preparations for the transfer, doctors requested several procedures, including an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital to carry out the procedures.
On the morning of January 6, Nkanu was taken to Euracare, where he was sedated with propofol to prevent movement during the MRI and central line insertion. Adichie said she became concerned when she observed unusual activity as medical staff rushed into the theatre.
She was later informed that her son had received an excessive dose of propofol, became unresponsive, and had to be resuscitated.
Following this, Nkanu was intubated, placed on a ventilator, admitted to the intensive care unit, and began experiencing seizures and cardiac arrest, conditions Adichie said he had never suffered from previously.
Nkanu died several hours later and Adichie alleged that her son was not adequately monitored after sedation and described the actions of the anesthesiologist involved as negligent.
She further claimed that the same doctor had been linked to similar incidents involving other children and questioned why he remained in active practice.
She concluded by calling for accountability within the healthcare system, stressing the need for safeguards to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
