THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has issued a press release in relation to the death of 18-year-old Christopher George of 350 Melanie Damishana, at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) last Friday, after being admitted and treated for a heart condition.

Citing the patient’s diagnosis as ‘Atrial Fibrillation’ – (a heart condition), the release stated:
“This patient arrived at the Accident and Emergency Unit as a result of his experiencing palpitations of the heart, chest pains and irregular heartbeat; and for same he was admitted. His medical history revealed that he was a cardiac patient who had undergone surgery, but the relatives could not explain for what reason.

“On the day in question, the nurses observed that the patient was unresponsive; the doctor who was on the ward immediately attended to the patient and noted that his prognosis was poor; this information was related to the patient’s relative by the attending physician. The patient was given oxygen, attached to the cardiac monitor and was always closely monitored. Around 15:00h, the patient began gasping for breath and was treated accordingly.

“The patient’s relatives visited around 16:00h, at which time his condition continued to deteriorate. The relatives were advised that there could only be two visitors at a bedside, at any one time. To this rule, the irate relatives did not adhere and it was at this point that the abuse of the staff commenced. More relatives barged into the ward and advanced to the patient’s bedside, with media operatives on their trail.

“The patient arrested shortly after and all visitors were asked to leave the ward to allow the staff to employ resuscitation efforts. This request was ignored and the patient’s relatives continued and intensified their abuse of staff. They remained on the ward until the patient’s body was wrapped and removed, for they could not be controlled by the hospital’s Public Safety Officers, to whom threats and derogatory remarks were also hurdled.
“It must be noted that the precedence that is being set by the ill-advised actions of these abusive relatives is distasteful, dangerous and illegal; and Management will employ every effort to ensure that these individuals are brought to justice.
“Moreover, the action of the media personnel who filmed this unfortunate incident was irresponsible, and a breach of the hospital’s protocol. These individuals were not granted permission to be on the ward or make video recordings of same. Again, management will employ every measure to ensure that this does not recur.
“Management implores media operatives to be more responsible when carrying out their duties; and remind all that permission must be sought from the Public Relations Office before media operatives can enter the ward and/or film any patient. It is a breach of the patient’s right to have him filmed or have his photograph taken for media purposes, without his permission.”
Meanwhile, efforts made by the Guyana Chronicle to contact the dead lad’s parents proved unsuccessful.  However, a source yesterday told this newspaper that the teenager, who lived in Cayenne, French Guyana, with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Gorris George, arrived here on vacation, along with them on Thursday August 12 and fell ill the same night. He was taken to the GPH the following day and was admitted. According to doctors there, he was admitted ‘experiencing palpitations of the heart, chest pains and irregular heartbeat’.
This newspaper understands that, concerned over his son’s illness, Mr. George put it to the doctors there that, should they not be able to treat his child’s condition, they should let him know, in which case he would fly him back to Cayenne for treatment. But the parent was assured by the hospital authorities that they had stabilized his condition, hence there was no need for a transfer.
A few days later, however, the nurses observed that the patient’s condition had deteriorated and alerted the physician who immediately ensured he was given appropriate treatment. When the patient’s father learnt of this new development, he requested that Christopher be turned over to the Caribbean Heart Institute in the GPH Complex. However, before that could have been done, the patient succumbed, while yet at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the GPHC.