Renowned author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has accused a Lagos-based hospital of medical negligence, alleging that errors during a medical procedure led to the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu.
In an emotional personal statement released to family members, Adichie recounted the harrowing events that culminated in her son’s death, insisting the tragedy was avoidable.
The acclaimed writer disclosed that the family had been in Lagos for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu fell ill. What initially appeared to be a mild cold reportedly escalated into a severe infection, leading to his admission at Atlantis Hospital.
According to her account, plans were already in motion for Nkanu to be flown to the United States the following day, January 7, under the care of travelling doctors, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore standing by to receive him.
As part of preparations for the trip, doctors requested further tests, including a lumbar puncture and an MRI, as well as the insertion of a central line. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital, described to them as the most suitable facility to carry out the procedures.
Narrating the events of January 6, Adichie said her son was taken to Euracare Hospital in his father’s arms and was sedated ahead of the procedures. She said she waited outside the theatre, unaware that tragedy was unfolding inside.
The statement reads, “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.
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.
He was to travel to the US the next day, January 7th, accompanied by Travelling Doctors. A team at Johns Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore. The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. Atlantis hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.
The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms. We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line’ procedure.
I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater and immediately knew something had happened.
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. 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.”
Adichie’s account has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of medical safety standards in private hospitals, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.
