A Lagos-based medical doctor, Umoh Michael, employed at the state's University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, tragically collapsed and passed away within a church setting. The incident followed his reportedly strenuous 72-hour surgical duty without adequate rest. This information surfaced through a letter, dated September 19, conveyed by the Association of Resident Doctors, addressed to LUTH's chief medical director.
The late Dr. Umoh Michael
In the letter, titled 'An Appeal By The House Officers Of LUTH,' the house officers voiced their grievances, alleging mistreatment by their senior colleagues, including enduring grueling on-call hours without breaks, and encountering issues related to sustenance and accommodation.
The letter articulates:
"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 protest letter underscored the longstanding challenges faced by the doctors since commencing their housemanship at the hospital. These challenges encompass enduring bullying from senior colleagues, enduring taxing on-call hours without reprieve, a lack of provisions for meals during on-call duties, and subpar accommodation conditions.
