Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has broken her silence following the devastating loss of her son, Nkanu, revealing harrowing details of what she described as fatal medical negligence that led to his death.
In a deeply emotional post shared on X, the celebrated writer recounted how a routine medical procedure turned into what she called her “worst nightmare,” accusing an anesthesiologist of criminal carelessness that cost her child his life.
According to Adichie, the family was in Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a mild cold but later escalated into a severe infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States on January 7, accompanied by travelling doctors, where a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was on standby to receive him.
She explained that the Johns Hopkins team requested an MRI and a lumbar puncture, while the Nigerian medical team also planned to insert a central line in preparation for the flight. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred them to Euracare Hospital for the procedures, citing it as the most suitable facility.
On the morning of January 6, Adichie said Nkanu was taken to Euracare Hospital in his father’s arms. Doctors informed her that sedation would be required to prevent movement during the MRI and central line procedure. While she waited outside the theatre, she noticed sudden panic as medical staff rushed in, immediately sensing something had gone wrong.
She recounted that shortly afterward, a doctor informed her that the anesthesiologist had administered an excessive dose of propofol, rendering Nkanu unresponsive before he was resuscitated. What followed, she said, was a rapid and terrifying deterioration — her son was placed on a ventilator, intubated, moved to the ICU, and soon began experiencing seizures and cardiac arrest.
“None of these had ever happened before,” she wrote.
Hours later, Nkanu died.
Adichie alleged that her son was never properly monitored after being overdosed and claimed that the anesthesiologist casually carried him on his shoulder instead of following standard medical protocols, making it unclear when he became unresponsive. She further accused the same doctor of switching off Nkanu’s oxygen after the procedure and again carrying him improperly to the ICU.
Describing the actions as “criminal negligence,” Adichie said no appropriate protocol was followed and stressed that her son was sick but stable and preparing for international transfer the next day.
“We brought in a child who was unwell but stable, for basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever,” she wrote.
The author also disclosed that the family has since learned of at least two previous cases involving the same anesthesiologist overdosing children, raising serious questions about why the hospital allegedly allowed him to continue practicing.
“This must never happen to another child,” she concluded, adding heartbreakingly, “I will never survive the loss of my child.”
The allegations have sparked widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nkanu’s death and accountability from the hospital and medical professionals involved.