Young Medical Doctor reportedly slumps and dies just after performing a 72-hour non-stop surgery
A tragic occurrence at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has highlighted the difficult working circumstances encountered by medical personnel when a doctor died after undergoing grueling 72-hour surgery without a break at the neurosurgery unit.
The Association of Resident Doctors delivered this heartbreaking news to LUTH’s main medical director in a letter dated September 19.
The resident doctors expressed their complaints in a letter headed “An Appeal By The House Officers Of LUTH,” citing bullying by senior colleagues, overly lengthy and stressful call hours without breaks, and a lack of proper provisions for meals and suitable housing.
Dr. Umoh Michael, a co-house officer, died tragically on September 17, 2023, according to the letter. Dr. Michael was reportedly on call in the Neurosurgery Unit for 72 hours.
He went home on Sunday morning, ready to attend church, after this exhausting duty. At around 11 a.m., he slumped in his place of worship, the United Evangelical Church.
Dr. Michael had barely slept in their apartment for the preceding week, according to his roommate, frequently returning home about 3 a.m. after surgeries and other demanding activities in the Neurosurgery Unit.
The resident doctors discussed some of the long-standing issues they’ve faced since beginning their horsemanship at the hospital.
They stressed the importance of addressing bullying by senior employees, providing stressful call hours with no breaks, the lack of food during call shifts, and poor lodging.
In response to these issues, the doctors made a number of demands. They requested that house officers who had been on call the previous day take a half-day off the next day or report to work at midday.
Furthermore, they requested that house police not be forced to work nonstop for 48 hours.
The doctors also suggested that the mandatory house check at the start of the housework be made free or heavily subsidized for house officers.
The letter continued with a request to senior colleagues to establish a more welcoming working atmosphere for junior doctors, arguing that house officers should not be assigned tasks more appropriate for porters, nurses, or patient relatives.
This unfortunate incident has brought to light the difficult conditions and problems that medical professionals confront, emphasizing the significance of addressing these concerns in order to ensure the well-being and safety of healthcare personnel.
