Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has raised allegations of negligence in the medical care that preceded the death of her young son, Nkanu Nnamdi, and is calling for a judicial inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death.
In a statement shared on her verified Instagram account, Adichie said she decided to make public a letter she had previously sent to the chairman of the board of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos, where her son received medical care before his death.
The author described the loss of her son as devastating for her family, saying she continues to struggle with the reality of his passing.
In the letter, Adichie recounted memories of her son and the impact his death has had on his twin brother, sister, grandparents, and extended family members.
She alleged that hospital officials initially informed her that her son received an excessive amount of propofol during sedation, which she claimed resulted in complications that eventually led to his death.
Adichie also questioned the information contained in her son’s death certificate, as well as the hospital’s handling of medical records and internal documentation connected to the incident.
According to her statement, hospital representatives initially acknowledged errors in the care provided to her son but later changed their position.
She further alleged that attempts to obtain additional records and clarification from the hospital were met with delays.
Adichie said she made the letter public because she believes remaining silent would prevent the circumstances surrounding her son’s death from being properly examined.
She stated that Euracare had initially supported the idea of an inquest into the death but is now challenging the process through legal action.
The author explained that a judicial inquest is a public inquiry aimed at establishing the facts surrounding a death and is not a criminal trial or a claim for compensation.
She added that she does not want individuals mentioned in her letter to be personally targeted and noted that some names were removed before the document was made public.
The allegations remain Adichie’s account of events, and a response from Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital was not included in the statement.
She concluded by thanking supporters for their messages and requesting prayers for her family as they continue to mourn the loss of their son.
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