Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital of medical negligence and a subsequent attempt to cover up the circumstances surrounding her son's death. In a four-part series shared on Instagram, Adichie detailed a devastating sequence of events that led to the loss of her son, Nkanu Nnamdi.
Allegations of Medical Negligence
According to Adichie, her son suffered a hypoxic brain injury caused by improper sedation administered by an anesthesiologist, Dr. Titus Ogundare, which ultimately resulted in his death. She alleges that the hospital engaged in dishonest practices following the tragedy, including issuing an inaccurate death certificate that falsely attributed the cause of death to meningitis.
Pattern of Dishonest Practices
Adichie claims that the hospital failed to provide complete or accurate medical records to her family, employed heartless language in legal correspondence—including referring to her son's death as a 'dispute'—and stalled or attempted to obstruct a coroner's inquest that was originally initiated by the hospital itself.
Describing the immense toll this has taken on her, Adichie said, 'I wake up every single morning with my heart racing… The ultimate and utter loneliness of grief is that only you can know the true depth of your despair. I long for, at least, peace to mourn, but Euracare Hospital has robbed me even of that.'
Attempts to Discourage Legal Action
The author also recounted an encounter with a senior figure in the hospital's ownership who allegedly attempted to discourage her from pursuing legal action by suggesting her reputation could be dragged in the mud during court proceedings. Adichie described this as a manipulative and threatening message.
'An inquest is a public judicial inquiry designed to establish the circumstances surrounding a death,' she stated. 'It is not a trial or a claim for damages, but simply a search for the truth.' By making these details public, she hopes to demand the accountability and transparency that she feels have been denied to her family.
'I have decided to make this letter public because to keep silent about Euracare's evil is to enable it,' she said.
