The Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos hospital of negligence after the death of her 21-month-old son. Nkanu Nnamdi died on 6 January after a brief illness. He was one of twin boys born to Adichie and her husband, Ivara Esege, in 2024 via surrogacy.
In a WhatsApp chat leaked on social media, Adichie wrote: 'It is like living your worst nightmare.' Her team confirmed the messages' authenticity. Solicitors for the couple served Euracare hospital with a legal notice on 10 January, requesting CCTV footage, monitoring data and medical records. The notice alleged lapses in care and lack of basic resuscitation equipment, amounting to medical negligence.
Nkanu died a day before he was due to be evacuated to Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. He had been referred from another Lagos hospital to Euracare for diagnostic procedures. Adichie accused the hospital of negligence, stating a doctor told her the anaesthesiologist had administered an overdose of propofol. Despite resuscitation, Nkanu suffered a cardiac arrest.
Euracare responded that it was inaccurate to suggest negligence caused the death, saying staff provided care in line with clinical protocols. The Lagos state government ordered an investigation. Nigeria has a low doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083, and less than 5% of the annual budget goes to health. Medical tourism is common among wealthy Nigerians.
