Renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is at the center of a tragic and highly sensitive medical dispute following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, on January 7, after what she describes as fatal lapses in care at Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos. The family, including Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, expressed profound devastation and requested privacy after Nkanu's passing due to a brief illness.

According to Adichie's personal account, which has been publicly circulated and confirmed by her media team, her son's condition deteriorated from what was initially believed to be a cold during Christmas holidays. He was first admitted to Atlantis Hospital, from where arrangements were made for an emergency medical evacuation to the United States on January 7. Prior to this, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital requested an MRI scan and lumbar puncture, while Nigerian doctors planned to insert a central line, leading to Nkanu's referral to Euracare Hospital for these procedures.

Adichie alleges that during the procedures at Euracare, her son was sedated with propofol by an anesthesiologist. While waiting, she observed medical personnel rushing into the operating theatre, signaling an emergency. She was later informed that Nkanu had received an excessive dose of propofol, became unresponsive, and required resuscitation. He was then intubated, placed on a ventilator, and admitted to the intensive care unit. Adichie stated that Nkanu, who had no prior history of such issues, subsequently suffered seizures and cardiac arrest, passing away hours later.

Her allegations further detail a profound lack of medical protocol, claiming her son was never properly monitored after sedation, and the anesthesiologist carried him without continuous observation, making the moment he became unresponsive unclear. She also alleged that the anesthesiologist switched off her son’s oxygen before transporting him to the ICU. Adichie described these actions as