The literary world is in mourning, and the Nigerian medical establishment is on trial. Celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has broken her silence to accuse a top Lagos hospital of "medical negligence" that led to the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

In a heart-wrenching statement that has sparked a national debate on healthcare standards, Adichie alleges that her son died on January 6 after an anesthesiologist at Euracare Multispecialist Hospital administered an overdose of sedatives. The boy, who was being prepared for an MRI scan and a central-line procedure, reportedly went into cardiac arrest and never woke up.

The "Casual" Death

"Suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever," Adichie wrote in a leaked WhatsApp message to family. "It is like living your worst nightmare." She described the conduct of the medical staff as "fatally casual and careless," painting a picture of a facility that prioritized billing over patient safety.

The tragedy is compounded by the fact that the family had traveled from the United States for the holidays. Nkanu was due to be flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore the very next day for specialized treatment of an infection. "He died hours before his flight to safety," a family friend revealed.

Euracare’s Defense

Euracare, a facility frequented by Nigeria’s elite, has issued a statement denying negligence. "The patient was critically ill when referred to us," the hospital management said. They claim the sedation was administered "in line with international protocols" but that the child’s condition deteriorated rapidly despite resuscitation efforts.

• The Investigation: The Lagos State Government has ordered an immediate coroner's inquest. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the family, promising that "no stone will be left unturned." The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has also suspended the licenses of the attending team pending the probe.
• Public Outrage: The incident has unleashed a torrent of anger on social media. Nigerians are sharing their own horror stories of negligence in private hospitals, using the hashtag #JusticeForNkanu. "If this can happen to Chimamanda, who has money and influence, what happens to the common man?" asked a user on X.

A Crisis of Confidence

The scandal strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s "medical tourism" reversal strategy. Euracare was marketed as a world-class alternative to flying abroad. For Adichie, who has spent her career championing Nigerian potential, the death of her son in a Lagos hospital is a bitter, tragic irony. As the family prepares for a funeral that should never have been, the spotlight is firmly on a healthcare system that, critics say, is efficient at charging fees but amateurish at saving lives.