Edmonton,
Canada: A 44-year-old Indian-origin man died at a hospital in Edmonton after reportedly
waiting more than eight hours for treatment in the emergency department,
triggering public concern and calls for accountability within Canada’s
healthcare system.
According
to a report by Global
News, the deceased, identified as Prashant
Sreekumar, was taken to the Grey Nuns
Community Hospital by a client after he complained of severe
chest pain while at work. Despite his condition, he was reportedly asked to
wait in the emergency room. Hours later, Sreekumar collapsed in the treatment
area after suffering a cardiac arrest and was declared dead.
Family
members allege that Sreekumar repeatedly complained of unbearable pain while
waiting. A video circulating on social media, purportedly featuring his wife,
claims his blood pressure rose to 210 while he
remained in the waiting room and that he was given only Tylenol
for pain relief. The family said an ECG was conducted, but they were allegedly
told that no serious abnormality was detected and that he should continue
waiting. Nurses reportedly monitored his blood pressure periodically, which the
family said continued to rise.
Speaking to Global News,
Sreekumar’s father, Kumar Sreekumar,
recalled his son’s distress. “He told me, ‘Papa, I cannot bear the pain’,” he
said, adding to the family’s anguish over the handling of the situation.
Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and
three children, aged three, 10, and 14.
Family friend Varinder Bhullar described the
loss as devastating and termed the incident shocking and unacceptable. “We
expect better from the hospital and the healthcare system,” he said.
The Grey Nuns Community Hospital is operated by Covenant
Health. In a statement to Global News, the
organisation said it could not comment on the specifics of the case due to
privacy concerns but confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Office
of the Chief Medical Examiner. “We offer our sympathy to the
patient’s family and friends. There is nothing more important than the safety
and care of our patients and staff,” the statement read.
The incident
has reignited debate over emergency room wait times and patient safety,
particularly for individuals presenting with critical symptoms such as chest
pain
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