Family blames hospital neglect for death of elderly woman

Other than low blood pressure for which her family says she was being treated, those who knew Gwendolyn Brown, 66, had no other chronic illnesses and lived a fairly healthy life.

She had no However, last Monday, she felt dizzy, lost consciousness and fell. Less than 36 hours later, she was pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital. Her younger sibling Marlene believes that if she had been treated with urgency, Brown would still be alive. She is imploring the relevant authorities to investigate.

"My sister got an emergency letter and she wasn't treated as such. Those who work in the emergency department need to be trained properly," she said. According to Marlene, Brown, who was a domestic worker, was on her way to work when she started feeling dizzy. So she started heading back home.

"On her way back she fell on her face and burst her lip. She hurt her breast, side, knees and other places. Her sons came and pick her up and carry her home. Later that morning, she was taken to a private doctor," she said. Brown was checked and sent home with medication. Marlene said on Tuesday, she went to visit Brown and they chatted for a bit.

"We were supposed to take her back to get her lip dressed and as she was getting ready, she black out on mi in the bed and her eyes started rolling over. Mi use the alcohol and rub up her face. She slept and wake and she say she nah go bother make it to the doctor because the dizziness on her. She said she was gonna go the Wednesday morning. Mi and her deh deh a reason little and her daughter-in-law said I must give her little salt. She take the salt and sleep for a very long time then she wake and tell mi that she was feeling better, and we and our other sisters was just there reasoning," Marlene said.

But Brown reportedly passed out later that night and was once again taken to the doctor. She was given an emergency referral letter to take to the KPH after she continued to have fainting spells.

"We reach KPH after 8 [p.m.] and we register her and dem do her vitals. Dem say we must sidung and wait for her to do ECG (electrocardiogram). We park up a wait and minute to 10 dem say we have to wait until shift change over. Every minute mi sister black out and mi have to keep on a rub her up. Mi tell di nurse and dem tell mi say she have to wait and she black out about eight times before a doctor see her. She finally do the ECG and she black out on the bed and di lady who do di test tell mi say she have to come off because other people want the bed to use," Marlene said.

Admitted to a ward

She said about two hours later, Brown was given the green light to be admitted to a ward; she was still in and out of consciousness.

"When she finally get upstairs, there was no bed for her to lay on. Other patients were there sitting in chair as well. My sister got two more bags of drip as they said she was dehydrated. By that time it was after 2 a.m. A nurse gave my sister two bottles of dehydration [liquid] which she inject in the drip and when she do it, mi just hear when mi sister say 'Um' and stiff out in the chair. Her chest and her belly stop move and mi start bawl fi help and the doctor dem run come," she said.

Marlene said she watched in horror as Brown's stomach got extremely bloated and after minutes of trying to resuscitate her, Brown was pronounced dead.

A senior representative at KPH said an investigation will be initiated in relation to the matter. She also stated that the family can seek to have a meeting with the director of patient affairs at the facility.