By Chatnewstv.com
LAGOS, Nigeria — Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos hospital of “criminally negligent” care, alleging that a fatal sedation error and a lack of proper monitoring led to the death of her young son, Nkanu.
In a detailed account confirmed by her media team, the “Half of a Yellow Sun” author stated her son died following a medical procedure at Euracare Hospital on Jan. 6. The family had been in Nigeria for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu developed a severe infection, prompting plans for an emergency medical evacuation to the United States.
Adichie said her son was stable and scheduled to fly to Baltimore the following day to be treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital. To prepare for the flight, doctors requested an MRI and the insertion of a central line, procedures for which the child was referred to Euracare.
The author alleged that her son was administered an excessive dose of the sedative propofol.
“How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to monitor him?” Adichie asked in the statement. “We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever.”
According to the account, the boy became unresponsive during the procedure and required resuscitation. Adichie alleged that the anesthesiologist failed to provide continuous observation and even switched off the child’s oxygen while transporting him to the intensive care unit.
Nkanu subsequently suffered seizures and cardiac arrest—conditions Adichie noted he had never previously experienced—and died several hours later.
“This must never happen to another child,” Adichie said.
The author further claimed that Euracare Hospital was aware of at least two previous incidents involving anesthetic overdoses by the same practitioner but allowed him to continue practicing.
The account was originally shared privately with a small circle of friends and family before circulating publicly. Adichie’s media team confirmed the authenticity of the statement, noting that the author stands by the allegations of a “clear breach of medical protocol.”
Euracare Hospital has not yet issued a formal public response to the allegations.
