The death of Dr. Umoh Michael, a young doctor who allegedly worked a 72-hour non-stop shift at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), caused outrage on social media. According to a letter from the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH chapter, the doctor was overworked and had barely slept before attending church on the day he died. This has led to many calling for better work conditions for medical professionals in Nigeria.
One Twitter user, drfynrekins, hopes that the Nigerian Medical Association will come out strongly to protect young doctors, saying that these deaths “would further deplete the numbers of those practicing in Nigeria and discourage those still in medical school.” Another user, Doingood, called on employers to help their employees get enough rest.
Dr. Umoh Michael’s death on 17th September, 2023, highlights the larger issue of understaffing in Nigeria’s healthcare system, as well as the negative effects of overworking medical professionals. The exact cause of his death is yet to be officially confirmed, but the statements made by his colleagues paint a clear picture of a doctor who was stretched too thin.
Initial reports suggested that the young doctor had died after a grueling 72-hour non-stop shift, leading to calls for better working conditions for medical professionals. “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 11 am.” According to doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH chapter, in a letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo.
As reported, Michael returned home at about 3:00 a.m. that Sunday and had barely slept in his apartment before setting off for Church that day. However, LUTH management has now set the record straight, stating that Dr. Umoh was not on call on the day of his death and had only worked four days in September.
“The death of Dr Umoh is unfortunate but the narrative of a 72 hours non-stop shift is false” While adding “The record from Neurosurgery unit shows that the last time he was on call was 13th and 14th September, 2023″. And “He was not on call on the 15th, 16th and 17th”.
The Association of Resident Doctors had also suggested that Dr. Umoh may have died from sudden cardiac arrest, but this has not been confirmed. LUTH management has described the young doctor as hardworking and diligent, and a promising young man who will be missed by all who knew him.
While the exact cause of Dr. Umoh’s death is still unclear, it is important to address the issue of long working hours and poor working conditions for medical professionals in Nigeria, as these have been repeatedly highlighted as contributing factors to poor health outcomes and high mortality rates.
This tragic incident highlights the importance of adequate staffing and work-life balance in the medical field. It also highlights the need for broader societal changes to address the ongoing healthcare crisis in Nigeria. As Twitter user Mazi_Ibem suggests, the Lagos State Government could do more to alleviate the pressure on doctors by hiring more medical professionals.
