Nigerian Doctor dies during church service, says hospital management

A Medical Doctor who has a month to the completion of his housemanship at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Michael Umoh has slumped and died during a church service with his parents.

Penpushing reports that the management of the Hospital made this known in a statement on Thursday, to debunk the narrative that he died after 72 hours non-stop shift, explaining that the claim was exaggerated, adding that he was still alive hours after his shift.

‘The record from the Neurosurgery unit shows that the last time he was on call was 13 and 14 September 2023. He was not on call on the 15, 16 and 17, contrary to the insinuations on social media. He was at home with his parents on the 16 and 17 September’, the management said

Penpushing further reports that the  statement  added that before this time, he(Umoh) was on call on the 7 and 8 September, an indication that he  was on call for a total number of 4 days in September, stating that the deceased parents gave the details of what they thought must have contributed to his death but pleaded that the wish of the family is respected and that the narrative is not for public consumption.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the hospital, Dr Kemi Abidoye, in a statement on Wednesday  said the deceased was posted to the neurosurgery unit, along with two other colleagues adding that  their work schedule includes a 48-hour call interspersed with four days that they are not scheduled to be on call.

Penpushing also reports that the association noted that the exact details of the emergency response after this event are still unclear, explaining that he was taken to Reddington hospital where he was confirmed dead.

‘Reports of a background cardiovascular disease that can predispose to sudden cardiac death have not been confirmed either from his family or from his pre-employment medical screening records.” the statement reads.

“The doctor was on call for 48 hours and had been off work for more than 24 hours before the incident happened in church on Sunday where he attended service,” the source said.

Penpushing reports that the association held a candlelight procession in honour of their departed colleague and have paid a condolence visit to the family, stressing that  the plans to immortalise him will mean that a reappraisal of the workplace of doctors is taken seriously and they  design deliberate attempts to ensure that the effect of brain drain is cushioned significantly.

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