'You can't wait 16 hours': Quebec doctor says patient died after lengthy ER wait

[sl8]

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/you-can-t-wait-16-hours-quebec-doctor-says-patient-died-after-lengthy-er-wait-1.6122220

'You can't wait 16 hours': Quebec doctor says patient died after lengthy ER wait

Joe Lofaro
CTVNewsMontreal.ca Digital Reporter
Updated Oct. 24, 2022 6:56 p.m. EDT
Published Oct. 24, 2022 11:10 a.m. EDT

A Quebec doctor is sounding the alarm on the "dangerous" wait times plaguing hospital emergency rooms after he said he had a patient die in front of him after the man waited 16 hours to receive urgent care.

Dr. Sébastien Marin is an emergency room doctor at Barrie Memorial Hospital in Ormstown, Que., about 65 kilometres southwest of Montreal.

He said the man in his 70s had suffered an aneurysm and died from a ruptured aorta within minutes of arriving at his hospital. The patient had initially waited 16 hours in another hospital but left after not being able to see a doctor, Marin said.

"Honestly, when we have a patient who walks in alive and just dies in front of us, it's always frustrating when we can't do anything. But it's even more frustrating when we know that the patient did the right thing. He tried to get care somewhere and he just didn't get it," Dr. Marin told CTV News on Monday.

[...]

[SlimJimmy]

1. Really, 16 hours at the ER without at least being triaged?

Unacceptable.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. Happens here too

Sometimes they get triaged and then don't get seen, or they sit in the hallway because there's no bed. Did you see the article I posted the other day about the kid who was in the ED for 76 hours waiting for a psych bed?

[sl8]

4. I did see your earlier post, thanks. nt

[Marcus IM]

3. That never happens in the USA

I mean, here in S Florida you just walk in and get treated right away.



Or, one can call for EMS and get a $7000 bill for transportation to the ER. The sky is the limit after that.