The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has denied allegations that one of its house officers, Dr. Michael Umoh, died after a 72-hour call.
Recall that the Association of Resident Doctors in a letter dated September 19, and addressed to LUTH’s chief medical director, accused their senior colleagues of bullying, giving them stressful call hours without breaks, and not providing feeding and good accommodation. While mourning their late colleague, Doctor Umoh, they claimed he died in church after a 72-hour shift in the hospital’s Neurosurgery unit.
‘’We the house officers are in deep grief over the loss of our colleague, a co-House officer (Dr Umoh Michael) who died on 17th September, 2023, after having a 72hrs call in Neurosurgery Unit. He is said to have been on call 72hrs before arriving home on Sunday morning to get set for church service, reaching his worship center (United Evangelical Church) where he slumped in the church at about 11am.
His roommate attested to the fact that Umoh Michael has barely slept in their apartment over the past one week as he was always on call or the day he returns home is around 3am after surgeries and other activities in Neurosurgery Unit.” the letter in part read
The hospital has, however, denied the allegation in a statement released on Thursday, September 21.
“LUTH management understands the fact that the family of Dr Umoh is presently mourning the death of their beloved son and requested the foreclosure of any media engagement regarding the death of their son. It is important for us as a management to make clarifications regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.
Dr Umoh died on Sept 17 while in church with his parents. The management was informed, and the death was later confirmed by one of the Consultants in his unit (Neurosurgery).
The death of Dr Umoh is unfortunate but the narrative of a 72 hours non-stop shift is false.
The record from Neurosurgery unit shows that the last time he was on call was 13th and 14th September, 2023. He was not on call on the 15th, 16th and 17th (the day he died), contrary to the insinuations on social media. He was at home with his parents on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17,” the management said
Prior to this time, the management said, he was on call duty on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8.
”This shows that Dr Umoh was on call for a total number of four days in September 2023. A delegation from LUTH visited the family on Wednesday to commiserate with the family and to get more details of the circumstances surrounding his death. The parents gave the details of what they thought must have contributed to his death but pleaded that the wish of the family be respected and that the narrative is not for public consumption” the statement read
The management described Dr Umoh as a hardworking, diligent house-officer, and a very promising young man.
It said he will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues.
“May his soul rest in peace, and may the Almighty give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” LUTH said.
