Lagos Suspends Anesthesiologist as Adichie Petitions Euracare Hospital

Lagos Suspends Anesthesiologist as Adichie Petitions Euracare Hospital

Solicitors to renowned Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have written a formal legal notice to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, over the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, alleging breaches of duty of care and medical negligence.

This development comes as the Lagos State Government confirmed that the hospital’s anesthesiologist has been suspended, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

In a letter dated January 10, 2026, the legal firm PINHEIRO LP, acting on behalf of Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, accused the hospital, its anesthesiologist, and other medical personnel of failing to adhere to acceptable paediatric care and safety standards.

The notice, signed by Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), stated that the child was referred to Euracare on January 6, 2026, by Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for diagnostic and preparatory procedures ahead of a planned medical evacuation to the United States.

According to the solicitors, the procedures included echocardiography, brain MRI, insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line), and a lumbar puncture, during which propofol was reportedly administered for intravenous sedation.

The letter alleged that while being transferred to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory after the MRI, the child developed sudden and severe complications under circumstances that raised “serious and substantive concerns” about patient safety.

The child was pronounced dead in the early hours of January 7, 2026.

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The parents’ lawyers listed several alleged lapses, including questions over the appropriateness and cumulative dosage of propofol, inadequate airway protection, lack of continuous physiological monitoring, and the alleged transfer of the sedated child without supplemental oxygen, adequate monitoring, or sufficient medical personnel.

Other concerns raised included the alleged absence of essential resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular distress, and failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia and patient transfer protocols.

The solicitors also faulted the hospital for an alleged failure to properly disclose the risks associated with propofol and other anaesthetic drugs, arguing that this undermined the requirement for informed consent.

They maintained that the alleged omissions amount to prima facie medical negligence, making the hospital and involved medical staff liable for the child’s death.

As part of pre-action steps, the parents demanded certified copies of all medical records relating to their son’s treatment within seven days, including consent forms, anaesthetic charts, drug administration logs, monitoring records, ICU notes, incident reports, and the identities of all personnel involved.

The hospital was also directed to preserve all relevant evidence, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, drug inventory records, emergency equipment logs, internal communications, and any morbidity and mortality reviews.

The lawyers warned that any destruction or alteration of evidence after receipt of the notice would be treated as obstruction of justice, with attendant legal consequences.

They further stated that failure to comply with the demands would compel the parents to pursue all available legal, regulatory, and judicial remedies.

In an earlier statement, Euracare Hospital said it had commenced a “detailed investigation” into the incident in line with its clinical governance standards, pledging transparency and cooperation with regulatory authorities.

Lagos Suspends Anesthesiologist as Adichie Petitions Euracare Hospital