A 43-year-old man, after experiencing severe chest pains, went to the A&E department at Limassol General Hospital early on a Saturday morning. He registered and, after moving to the waiting area, left without informing anyone (though he may have told his wife or someone else about his intentions).
Shortly afterwards, he was found dead behind the wheel of his car, following a road collision that occurred when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with a parked car.
A post-mortem examination revealed that he had suffered a myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease, as stated in an official announcement.
The police will investigate the circumstances of the accident (which are more or less clear), while at the same time, the state health services organisation (SHSO) will examine the how and why, although this is also fairly evident.
Initial reports suggest that the man (whose name was Alkis Michael) left to go to a private clinic.
SHSO clarified that Michael’s stay at the A&E department was brief. This suggests that the hospital bears no responsibility. On first reading, this seems accurate, and the matter ends here. The fault lies with the wrong choice made by the patient (now deceased).
However, his first choice was the state hospital. Almost all of us choose the A&E departments of public hospitals first because that’s where we’ve relied for help all these years.
Those without insurance or substantial financial resources have always rushed there, and it has been ingrained in our minds that that’s where we seek help.
So, why did this particular man change his mind and seek help elsewhere? Clearly, the pain was intense, and he was concerned—rightfully so, as tragically proven.
He likely expected that a doctor or nurse would immediately take him in and assess whether his case was urgent or if he could wait with the others.
By going there, he would have thought that some sort of triage would take place.
For example, if someone has cut their hand, they might be able to wait, but if someone has a serious reason to believe their heart might stop, they should be seen immediately.
Perhaps he had seen television series where, as soon as a patient arrives, doctors rush to them, put them on a stretcher, and run down the corridor to save the day. But in reality, it doesn’t work like that.
You’re told to sit down and wait to be called when it’s your turn.
However, you don’t know when that will be, and all the while, a little alarm is ringing in your head, telling you that it’s urgent for someone to see you.
That’s probably why he decided to leave. No one stopped him, no one told him he was endangering his life. And thus, the hospital bears no responsibility. That’s where the investigation will likely conclude.