Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie accuses Lagos hospital of negligence after toddler's death

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is accusing a private hospital in Lagos of negligence that led to the death of her 21-month-old son after the family traveled there from the United States for the holidays, according to her account and a family representative. The boy, Nkanu, who had an unspecified infection, died on Jan.

6, a day before he was to be flown to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for further treatment. Ms. Adichie said in a group WhatsApp chat that was later leaked that an anesthesiologist at Euracare Hospital administered an overdose of the sedative propofol. She wrote that he became unresponsive, was resuscitated, intubated and placed on a ventilator, then had seizures and cardiac arrest before he died.

A family representative, Omawumi Ogbe, confirmed details of the chat. Euracare said in a statement that the boy had arrived critically ill and that “the suggestion that this tragic outcome resulted from medical negligence is erroneous,” and that it was investigating. The case has prompted an outpouring of complaints about Nigeria’s health system, with people interviewed saying hospitals are overcrowded, lack expertise and sometimes fail to provide timely care.

President Bola Tinubu issued a statement of condolence saying, "As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child," while his office has previously said trips by officials abroad were for other matters.

Key Topics

World, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Lagos, Euracare Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Propofol