Attorneys for well-known Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and her partner; Dr. Ivara Esege, have written to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos regarding the passing of her son Nkanu Nnamdi, who was 21 months old.
The Attorneys claimed in a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, that the hospital, its anesthesiologist, and attending medical staff had violated the duty of care promised to their son, who passed away early on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. As investigations into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death continue, the Lagos State Government has announced the suspension of the anesthesiologist at the Hospital.
The notice states that on January 6, 2026, Atlantis Pediatric Hospital referred the child to the hospital for a number of diagnostic and preparatory treatments. These included a lumbar puncture, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line), an MRI of the brain, and an echocardiography. These treatments were administered in a bid to get ready for an upcoming medical evacuation to the United States, where he would be met by a specialized medical team. Propofol was also used to induce intravenous sedation.
Several shortcomings in pediatric anesthetic and procedural care are described in the legal notice. Concerns over the suitability and cumulative dosage of propofol in the critically ill child, insufficient airway protection during deep sedation, and a purported failure to provide ongoing physiological monitoring are some of these. He was then moved without sufficient medical staff following him, inefficient monitoring, and without additional oxygen.
The parents additionally claimed unavailability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular compromise, and an overall failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia, patient-transfer, and safety protocols.
The Attorneys contend that these purported errors amount to prima facie violations of the duty of care, making the hospital and all participating medical staff accountable for medical negligence that caused the child’s death. Within seven days of receiving the notice, the parents requested certified copies of all medical records pertaining to their son’s treatment as part of their subsequent legal actions. Admission notes, permission papers, pre-anaesthetic evaluations, anaesthetic charts, medication administration records, monitoring logs, procedural notes, nursing observations, ICU records, incident reports, and the identities of all participating medical personnel are among the documentation that are needed.
Additionally, the hospital was explicitly ordered to retain all pertinent evidence, both electronic and physical. This includes electronic monitoring data, crash cart and emergency equipment logs, pharmacy and drug inventory records, CCTV footage from procedure rooms and hallways, corporate communications, and any studies of morbidity and mortality. Internal evaluations, safety logs from the MRI suite, and any other paperwork related to the child’s care are also included in the demand.
“Any destruction, alteration, or loss of such evidence after receipt of this letter shall be regarded as suppression or concealment of evidence and obstruction of the course of justice, and will be relied upon accordingly, with attendant legal consequences,” the Attorneys cautioned.
The legal notice ended with a warning that the parents would have no choice but to seek all available legal, regulatory, and judicial remedies against the hospital and all medical workers involved if the Hospital failed or refused to comply with the demands within the allotted deadline.
