Medical doctor dies in church after working 3 days nonstop shift at Lagos hospital

A Lagos-based medical doctor, Umoh Michael, working at the state’s University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, slumped and died in a church after he reportedly performed a 72-hour surgery without.

This was disclosed by the Association of Resident Doctors in a letter dated September 19, and addressed to LUTH’s chief medical director.

The doctors in the letter titled ‘’An Appeal By The House Officers Of LUTH’’ accused their senior colleagues of bullying, giving them stressful call hours without breaks, and not providing feeding and good accommodation.

The letter read,

“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 pointed out that the doctors have long standing challenges since they resumed housemanship in the hospital and that one of the most striking challenges they face is the bullying they receive from their senior colleagues, stressful call hours without breaks in between, no call food, no good accommodation.

Below is a copy of the letter