Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie alleges Lagos hospital negligence after toddler son’s death

The Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos private hospital of negligence after the death of one of her 21-month-old twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who died on 6 January after a brief illness. Adichie’s team confirmed the authenticity of a leaked WhatsApp chat in which she described the situation as “like living your worst nightmare” and said a doctor had told her the resident anaesthesiologist had administered an overdose of propofol.

Despite resuscitation and ventilation, Nkanu suffered a cardiac arrest that led to his death; Adichie said in the message that the anaesthesiologist had been “fatally casual and careless.” The twins were born to Adichie and Ivara Esege, a doctor, in 2024 by surrogacy. Solicitors for the couple reportedly served Euracare hospital with a legal notice dated 10 January seeking CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data and the toddler’s medical records within seven days, and alleging lapses during admission and a lack of basic resuscitation equipment amounting to medical negligence.

Euracare said it was inaccurate to suggest negligence and that staff had “provided care in line with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards” to the “critically ill” toddler; the hospital has not yet replied to the legal notice.

Key Topics

Culture, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Euracare Hospital, Lagos, Nkanu Nnamdi, Propofol