Alberta Directs ‘Complete Review’ Into Death of Man Waiting for Care at ER

The Alberta government has called for a “complete review” into the death of a man who waited about eight hours for care at an Edmonton emergency room.

Prashant Sreekumar had been complaining of chest pain and went to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital on Dec. 22, his wife said in a video statement posted to social media. After waiting about eight hours for care, he collapsed and died in the ER.

She said Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones had directed Acute Care Alberta (ACA) to work with Covenant Health, which manages the Grey Nuns hospital, for “a complete review” of the matter.

Jones offered his “deepest condolences” to Sreekumar’s family, saying his ministry would support the review and work with ACA and Covenant Health to “ensure any appropriate actions are taken” in response to the review findings.

The minister said the two organizations have been directed to review the “circumstances and potential contributing factors” of the incident.

He included a statement from Acute Care, which said it was “deeply saddened” by the death, offering sympathies to the family and friends of Sreekumar.

“Covenant Health has initiated a review to fully understand the circumstances and identify any contributing factors in this case. In line with our mandate to oversee acute care system quality, ACA will participate in this review,” the statement said.

Acute Care said it would also receive a copy of the review results and “work closely with Covenant to ensure and support implementation of any recommendations.”

The organization said that an independent investigation has also been launched by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

The Epoch Times attempted to reach the Chief Medical Officer but did not immediately hear back.

Covenant Health previously said privacy regulations restrict what they can share, but provided a statement from Karen Macmillan, interim chief operating officer of acute and primary care, that said they were “deeply saddened” over the incident and offered sympathy to the man’s family and friends.

“There is nothing more important than the safety and care of our patients and staff. While we are unable to provide comment on specifics surrounding the care of any patient due to privacy reasons, we can confirm the case is now with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,” Macmillan said.

Family’s Response

Sreekumar’s wife, Niharika, said his blood pressure “kept on rising,” with the last measurement at 210.

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation says that blood pressure readings “consistently at or above 130/80 mmHg” are considered high.

Niharika Sreekumar said her husband was prescribed Tylenol while he waited at the hospital from noon to about 8:50 p.m.

“They said that chest pain was not considered an acute problem. They did not suspect cardiac arrest when he came inside,” she said in the video.

She said her husband stood up for a “fraction of a second” and then collapsed. She has blamed hospital administration and staff for the death of her husband “by not providing him timely medical help.”

A GoFundMe page was set up for the family, calling Sreekumar a “devoted husband, loving father of three, and a respected member of the community.”

“We are calling for a transparent and independent investigation so the family can receive clarity and answers, and so steps can be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future,” the fundraiser said.

The funds raised were said to be for immediate expenses, ongoing family needs, and providing stability for Sreekumar’s children.