Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is speaking out against what she claims is a shocking case of medical negligence at a Lagos hospital. The 21-month-old twin son, Nkanu, who was born via surrogacy in 2024, died after a brief illness on January 6th, sparking outrage among the couple and their supporters.
In a WhatsApp message to family and friends that was leaked online, Adichie expressed her devastating grief, likening it to "living your worst nightmare." Her team has confirmed the authenticity of the message.
According to reports from Arise News, Nkanu had been referred for several diagnostic procedures at Euracare hospital, where he ultimately suffered cardiac arrest and died due to what was described as an overdose of sedative propofol. The resident anaesthesiologist allegedly administered this fatal dose.
The couple's lawyers have since issued a legal notice to the hospital, demanding CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, and Nkanu's medical records. They claim that lapses in care and lack of basic equipment at Euracare amount to serious medical negligence.
Adichie has accused Euracare's staff of being "fatally casual" and "careless," which her team disputes as inaccurate. The hospital has defended its staff, stating they followed established protocols and international standards for care.
The tragedy has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for reform in Nigeria's struggling healthcare system. Critics point to the nation's abysmal doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083 and inadequate funding allocation to the health sector, resulting in botched procedures and limited emergency services nationwide.
Oby Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice-president and presidential aspirant, has called for "deep reforms" to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again, citing governance failures as a major contributor to Nigeria's healthcare woes.
Meanwhile, high-profile figures like President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari have expressed their condolences to Adichie and Esege. Anthony Joshua, the boxer who survived a near-fatal car crash last December, has also joined the chorus of outrage over the lack of adequate emergency services in Nigeria.
As the nation mourns Nkanu's loss, many are left grappling with the systemic issues that led to his death and demanding change.
In a WhatsApp message to family and friends that was leaked online, Adichie expressed her devastating grief, likening it to "living your worst nightmare." Her team has confirmed the authenticity of the message.
According to reports from Arise News, Nkanu had been referred for several diagnostic procedures at Euracare hospital, where he ultimately suffered cardiac arrest and died due to what was described as an overdose of sedative propofol. The resident anaesthesiologist allegedly administered this fatal dose.
The couple's lawyers have since issued a legal notice to the hospital, demanding CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, and Nkanu's medical records. They claim that lapses in care and lack of basic equipment at Euracare amount to serious medical negligence.
Adichie has accused Euracare's staff of being "fatally casual" and "careless," which her team disputes as inaccurate. The hospital has defended its staff, stating they followed established protocols and international standards for care.
The tragedy has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for reform in Nigeria's struggling healthcare system. Critics point to the nation's abysmal doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083 and inadequate funding allocation to the health sector, resulting in botched procedures and limited emergency services nationwide.
Oby Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice-president and presidential aspirant, has called for "deep reforms" to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again, citing governance failures as a major contributor to Nigeria's healthcare woes.
Meanwhile, high-profile figures like President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari have expressed their condolences to Adichie and Esege. Anthony Joshua, the boxer who survived a near-fatal car crash last December, has also joined the chorus of outrage over the lack of adequate emergency services in Nigeria.
As the nation mourns Nkanu's loss, many are left grappling with the systemic issues that led to his death and demanding change.
. The allegations of medical negligence, coupled with the nation's abysmal doctor-to-patient ratio and inadequate funding, paint a concerning picture of systemic failure. While it's too early to pinpoint blame, the severity of this incident demands an immediate response from authorities. Reforming Nigeria's healthcare system will require sustained effort and investment from policymakers, as well as increased transparency and accountability within hospitals. The fact that Nkanu's death has sparked such widespread outrage highlights the need for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure 
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is SO upset about her 21-month-old twin son Nkanu dyin from a fatal overdose of propofol at Euracare hospital 
like wut r they even doin? 
i mean, u got a 1:9,083 doc to patient ratio in nigeria and people are still dyin from negligence 
it's soooooooo sad 
. and now oby ezekwesili is callin for deep reforms but we all no how that goes 
i just hope they get sum justice 4 Nkanu ASAP 
what happened to that little boy. The medical negligence case at Euracare hospital is really shocking... I mean, how can a resident anesthesiologist give someone so much propofol that it leads to cardiac arrest? 
It's like, basic training for anesthesia, you know?
. I'm all for calling out hospitals and medical staff when they mess up, but at least have some transparency about it.
this just gets worse... how can you be so careless with a tiny human life? propofol overdose isnt exactly rocket science 
i need to see the hospital's protocols and staff training records on this before i believe they followed standard care procedures ...and what about those cameras that supposedly captured everything at Euracare? where are they now? shouldn't the public have access to that info? 
. I'm also disappointed dat ppl like president bola tinubu are just postin condolences on social media without takin any concrete action 
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. It's no wonder the doctor-to-patient ratio is so skewed; it's just not sustainable in any way. We need real change now, not just empty words of condolence 
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. And what's up with all these high-profile figures comin' outta nowhere to condemn the hospital? It just seems like a PR stunt to me 
... I mean, don't get me wrong, Nkanu's death is tragic and I'm sure Adichie's devastated, but let's not rush to judgment just yet. There might be more to this story than meets the eye 
...
It's just so heartbreaking for the family... I'd be losing my cool if that was me in their shoes 
... not just paying lip service, but actual reform & investment in our healthcare infrastructure. I'm all for accountability too, so Euracare should be held to the highest standards 
. This tragedy has sparked a much-needed conversation about our nation's priorities... and we can't afford to ignore it 
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. I mean, how can someone be so careless? The hospital's defense that they followed protocols doesn't cut it - there has to be more than just procedure when it comes to patient care 
. It's clear that Nigeria's healthcare system is in shambles and something needs to change ASAP 
. We need better funding, staffing, and equipment for our hospitals. The fact that we're still seeing cases like this one is a reminder that we have so far to go 
. The fact that the resident anaesthesiologist was "fatally casual" and "careless" is just devastating 
. Anthony Joshua may not have gone through what Nkanu went through, but his outrage is loud and clear, and let's be real, he's got a platform now 
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. As Oby Ezekwesili said, we need deep reforms that prioritize the well-being of our citizens, especially vulnerable ones like Nkanu