US hospital pulls plug on Jamaican patient

She died - they pulled the plug and Amber Ebanks died.

The 23-year-old Jamaican who went to the United States of America in 2021 to pursue a degree in business management and accounting at Monroe College, passed away last Friday.

"Her heart stopped on Friday and they pulled the plug," Amber's elder sister, Katelyn, said, her voice filled with sorrow.

The young Jamaican student's battle for life captured the public's attention. In February, she suffered a minor stroke which led to the discovery of an arteriovenous malformation in her brain. To prevent further issues, doctors recommended a procedure to block the abnormal blood vessels.

The promising student drove herself to the Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx for the surgery on July 30. However, the procedure inadvertently blocked a major artery, leading to bleeding around her brain. Amber was placed in a medically induced coma and treated for brain swelling in the Intensive Care Unit. However, on August 9, just 10 days after the procedure, doctors declared her brain dead.

But there were concerns about the accuracy of this diagnosis and her family fought to save her life. Her family sought to have her transferred to a facility in Long Island, New Beginnings, where doctors believed she still had a chance for recovery.

Katelyn believes that inadequate nourishment on the part of the hospital contributed to her sister's death. Independent doctors had even submitted affidavits stating that there were still functioning brain cells, and a slim chance of recovery remained if Amber had been given more time and care. Her sister voiced her frustration, saying, "The world needs to know what they are doing in this country."

Prior to her demise, Amber had ongoing heart, lung, and brain functions, as well as liver and kidney function. Her sister claimed that the hospital refused to feed her since her surgery on July 30.

Amber's father, Richard, is a broken man.

"I'm not so good. I don't know. I don't drop down yet so I am still holding up," he said.

The father was denied a visa by the US embassy in Kingston after he applied for one so he could be at Amber's side.