Home / Health / Woman Demands Inquiry After Husband Dies in ER Wait
Woman Demands Inquiry After Husband Dies in ER Wait
3 Feb
Summary
- Husband died after a ten-and-a-half-hour wait in the ER.
- The woman seeks justice and accountability for her husband's death.
- She attributes the death to negligence, not a simple mistake.
A woman in Newfoundland is calling for an inquiry into the death of her husband, Robert Power, who passed away on March 10, 2025, after waiting for ten-and-a-half hours in the emergency department of Carbonear General Hospital. Power, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), went to the ER for breathing difficulties. His wife, Betty Lou Power, stated that he suffered a massive heart attack and died in the waiting area.
His heart stopped for several minutes, and though resuscitated, he never regained consciousness and was later taken off life support. Betty Lou Power expressed that this tragedy underscores the risks of long ER waits, referencing a physician's warning about potential deaths. She believes her husband's death resulted from negligence, stating that timely care or even basic support during his wait could have prevented his death.
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services offered condolences, citing privacy concerns and emphasizing their use of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). They also mentioned measures to address wait times. However, Power remains unsatisfied, vowing to continue her fight for justice and accountability. She plans to organize a protest with other concerned families in St. John's.
