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Viral Video Sparks Probe into Alberta Healthcare
16 Jan
Summary
- Accountant died after a long wait in an Alberta hospital emergency room.
- His wife reported they waited nearly seven-and-a-half hours for a doctor.
- An inquiry has been ordered by Alberta's Minister of Health Services.
A father of three, Sreekumar, passed away on December 22 at Grey Nun's Community Hospital in Alberta's capital. His wife recounted a distressing wait of nearly seven-and-a-half hours before Sreekumar, who had been experiencing chest pains, was seen by a doctor. He collapsed shortly after and died within minutes. Videos documenting the family's ordeal gained global attention, highlighting concerns about Canada's healthcare system.
In response to the significant and concerning circumstances surrounding Sreekumar's death, Alberta's Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services has initiated an unprecedented fatality inquiry. This investigation, to be led by a provincial judge, will scrutinize the full details of the event and is expected to yield public findings and recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies. The minister emphasized the commitment to strengthening health system capacity.
Multiple reviews are underway, including a quality assurance review by Acute Care Alberta and an internal review by Covenant Health, which operates the hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is also conducting an independent investigation. As of Thursday evening, an online fundraiser for the family had raised over 180,000 Canadian dollars.
