SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday how Lagos State medical workers threatened strike action over the circumstance that resulted in the death of Umoh Michael.
The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has debunked a viral claim that one of its house officers, Dr Michael Umoh, died after a 72-hour call.
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday how Lagos State medical workers threatened strike action over the circumstance that resulted in the death of Umoh Michael.
It was learned that the “overworked medical doctor” died on Sunday after he collapsed during a church service.
The deceased was said to have worked for a three-day stretch performing operations at the Neurosurgery Unit of the federal government-owned health facility before the incident.
However, in a press statement issued by the hospital management team, it was alleged that Dr Umoh did not work at the hospital three days before last Sunday when he died.
The statement reads: “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 September 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 the 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 statement adds.
Prior to this time, the management said, he was on call on September 7 and 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 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,” it said.
Dr Umoh was hailed by management as a hard-working and diligent house officer, as well as a promising young man.
It was stated that he would be much missed by his friends and coworkers.
“May his soul rest in peace, and may the Almighty give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” LUTH statement added.
