Renowned author Chimamanda Adichie has initiated legal action against a private hospital in Lagos, holding it responsible for the death of her young son. Adichie and her partner, Dr. Ivara Esege, allege profound medical negligence and a failure in professional duty led to the tragic loss of their 21-month-old child, Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege.
Chronology of a Tragedy: From Referral to Fatality
The child, born on March 25, 2024, was referred to the Lagos facility on January 6, 2026 from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital. He was scheduled for several diagnostic procedures ahead of an urgent medical evacuation to the United States. These procedures included an echocardiogram, a brain MRI, the insertion of a central catheter, and a lumbar puncture. For sedation during these tests, the medical team administered the drug propofol.
However, the situation took a devastating turn. According to a detailed legal notice dated January 10, 2026, and served by lawyers from Prof. Kemi Pinheiro's firm, the child suffered sudden and severe complications. These occurred while he was being moved to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after his MRI scan. The notice states he died in the early hours of January 7, 2026.
A Catalogue of Alleged Medical Lapses
The legal document outlines a series of serious allegations against the hospital and its staff. It claims there were critical breaches in paediatric anaesthetic and procedural care that directly contributed to the boy's death.
The parents' solicitors highlighted multiple specific failures:
- Questions about the appropriateness and dosage of propofol for a critically ill infant.
- Inadequate protection of the child's airway while under deep sedation.
- A failure to ensure continuous monitoring of his vital signs.
- Transferring the sedated child without supplemental oxygen and without sufficient medical personnel in attendance.
- Alleged delays in recognising and managing a respiratory or cardiovascular crisis.
- An overall failure to follow established safety protocols for paediatric anaesthesia and patient transfer.
A further key allegation is that the hospital did not properly inform the parents of the risks associated with propofol and other agents, potentially violating the legal requirement for informed consent.
Legal Demands and Preservation of Evidence
As a first step in seeking justice, Adichie and Dr. Esege have demanded the hospital produce certified copies of all medical records related to their son's treatment within seven days. The exhaustive list includes admission notes, consent forms, anaesthetic charts, drug records, monitoring logs, ICU records, and incident reports.
Furthermore, the hospital has been formally instructed to preserve all evidence. This includes CCTV footage from hallways and procedure rooms, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, and internal communications. The legal notice warns that any destruction or alteration of evidence will be treated as obstruction of justice.
The solicitors stated that failure to comply with these demands will force the parents to pursue all available legal and regulatory actions against the hospital and the involved medical personnel. This case puts a stark spotlight on patient safety protocols in Nigerian private healthcare and the accountability of medical institutions.
