LUTH doctor died from injuries sustained at home, says CMD

THE management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has dismissed suggestions that Dr. Hestia Idiodi-Thomas, a young consultant paediatric surgeon and staff of the hospital who died recently, either committed suicide or was a victim of domestic violence.

  
Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, told The Guardian yesterday that Idiodi-Thomas was brought to the Accidents and Emergency Department of the teaching hospital on Tuesday, October 14, 2015, following injuries sustained in tragic circumstances within her home environment.
According to Bode, all efforts at resuscitating her failed and she was pronounced dead.
He said the untimely death of this mother of two was a rude shock to her colleagues and the entire LUTH community.
The Guardian investigation revealed that the deceased was married to Dr. Idiodi Thomas, a consultant haematologist with Lagos State Ministry of Health.
The LUTH chief medical director said the police were promptly informed and a Coroner’s inquest into the case is almost completed.
“Dr. Heista Idiodi-Thomas was beloved by her colleagues, patients and all members of LUTH community who admired her dedication to duty, her gentle ever-smiling mien and humility to all. We shall all miss her. While LUTH prays for the repose of her soul, the management appeals to all to refrain from any speculations about the cause of her death until the coroner’s verdict has been pronounced.
“We therefore implore the press and the general public to please respect the memory of this rare gem and leave the family to mourn as they should during this difficult period,” Bode said.
The CMD added: “We are working with the Coroner to speed up the inquest. It is a legal process that must follow its procedure. Heisha was like a daughter to me, and most of us here. We will do everything possible to ensure that the right things are done.
“But we must wait for the Coroner’s inquest. I don’t want people to jump the gun. There has been a lot of speculation on domestic violence and so on. But I must tell you that I have been talking with Heisha’s mother and family as well as the husband.
“The mother and the family are on the same page with us in terms of making sure that these speculations do not thrive.
The mother is particular about her daughter’s husband and the soul of her late daughter. She wants the media and public to allow them to mourn.
We will call a media conference as soon as the Coroner’s inquest is ready so that people can come and ask their questions. But for now, I cant tell you more than this.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has offered to assist the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on its investigation into the cause of Dr. Heisha’s death.
In a letter to the NMA yesterday, DSVRT offered their unbiased services and support towards the investigation, given what they called “ the breadth of its expertise in the area of domestic violence”