Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, have initiated formal legal proceedings against a private hospital in Lagos. This action follows the tragic death of their 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege, which they allege resulted from medical negligence.
Legal Notice Alleges Critical Lapses in Care
In a detailed legal notice dated 10 January 2026, solicitors representing the grieving parents have accused the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and other medical staff of breaching their duty of care. The child, born on 25 March 2024, passed away in the early hours of 7 January 2026.
The notice, issued by a law firm led by Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, states that the alleged failures amount to prima facie breaches of professional standards. This could render the hospital and its personnel liable for medical negligence. The incident occurred while the child was undergoing procedures ahead of a planned medical evacuation to the United States.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
According to the legal documents, the young boy was referred to the Lagos facility from Atlantis Paediatric Hospital on 6 January 2026. He was scheduled for several diagnostic procedures, including an echocardiogram, a brain MRI, and the insertion of a PICC line. These were preparatory steps before his transfer to a specialist team abroad.
During a lumbar puncture, the child was administered intravenous sedation with the drug propofol. The legal notice raises serious concerns about events that followed. It alleges that during transportation to the cardiac catheterisation lab after the MRI, the boy developed sudden and severe complications.
The solicitors claim there were multiple critical failures:
- Questions over the appropriateness and dosing of the sedative propofol.
- Inadequate protection of the child's airway while under deep sedation.
- A failure to ensure continuous physiological monitoring during transfer.
- The alleged transfer of the patient without supplemental oxygen and without sufficient medical personnel in attendance.
- Concerns about delayed recognition of respiratory or cardiovascular distress and a lack of basic resuscitation equipment.
Furthermore, the parents allege that the hospital failed to adequately disclose the risks of the anaesthetic agents used, undermining the legal requirement for informed consent.
Formal Demands and Preservation of Evidence
As a critical next step, Adichie and Dr. Esege have demanded certified copies of all medical records related to their son's treatment within seven days. The requested documents are extensive and include:
- Admission notes, consent forms, and anaesthetic charts.
- Drug administration records and monitoring logs.
- ICU records, incident reports, and the identities of all staff involved.
The hospital has been formally warned to preserve all evidence. This includes CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, and internal communications. The legal notice explicitly states that any destruction or alteration of evidence would be treated as suppression of evidence and obstruction of justice.
The letter concludes that failure to comply with these demands will leave the parents with no choice but to pursue all available legal, regulatory, and judicial remedies against the hospital and the involved medical staff.
Hospital's Response and Public Reaction
The medical facility at the centre of the allegations, Euracare Multispecialist Hospital, has previously issued a public statement. It expressed its deepest sympathies to Chimamanda Adichie and her family, describing the loss of a child as beyond words. The case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about patient safety and medical accountability in Nigeria.
The Lagos State government is also reported to have intervened in the matter. The outcome of this legal action is being closely watched, as it involves one of Nigeria's most celebrated literary figures and touches on fundamental issues of healthcare standards and justice.
