A 44-year-old Indian-origin man has died in Canada after allegedly waiting for over eight hours in a hospital emergency room, with his grieving wife accusing the medical facility of "killing her husband" through neglect. The incident at Edmonton's Grey Nuns Community Hospital has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about healthcare delays.
A Prolonged and Painful Wait
Prashant Sreekumar was brought to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in southeast Edmonton around 12:15 pm after experiencing intense chest pain at work. He was registered at triage by 12:20 pm. According to his wife's account in a viral video, he remained in the triage area until approximately 8:50 pm that night.
Throughout this agonising wait, Prashant complained of constant and severe chest pain. His father, Kumar Sreekumar, who arrived shortly after, recalled his son saying, "Papa, I cannot bear the pain." The family stated that Prashant described his pain level as "15 out of 10" and repeatedly informed staff of the severity of his condition.
Medical checks during the wait period showed his blood pressure was rising dangerously. "It went up, up, and up. To me, it was through the roof," his father told Global News. The last recorded blood pressure reading was a critically high 210.
Allegations of Neglect and a Final Collapse
Despite his symptoms, the family claims hospital staff did not treat his case as an acute emergency. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed, but the family was reportedly told no serious issue was detected. For pain management during the extended wait, he was only offered Tylenol.
"They said that chest pain is not considered an acute problem. They do not suspect a cardiac arrest," his wife recounted. The situation reached a tragic climax when Prashant was finally taken inside. "He was asked to sit down. He got up for a fraction of seconds and he collapsed. He fainted," his wife said. Nurses were then heard saying they couldn't feel his pulse.
In her emotional statement, Prashant's wife directly blamed the hospital: "So basically the hospital administration, the employees of Grey Nuns Hospital, have killed my husband, Prashant Sreekumar, by not providing him timely medical help." She also criticised the security staff for being rude and dismissive during the crisis.
A Family Left Devastated
Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and their three children, aged 3, 10, and 14. Described as a devoted father known for his cheerful and playful nature, his sudden death has left the family shattered. They were known to be close-knit and enjoyed travelling together.
This tragic case has cast a spotlight on the pressures facing emergency healthcare services and the human cost of long waiting times. It underscores the critical need for timely intervention, especially for patients presenting with symptoms like severe chest pain, which are classic indicators of potential cardiac events.
