Investigation after Beijing man dies ‘waiting for Covid-delayed medical care’
- Authorities in the capital question emergency centre and hospital over death of 32-year-old man
- Father says his son collapsed waiting about an hour for an ambulance
The deceased man’s father, surnamed Song, wrote on WeChat on Thursday that his son, who lived in Shunyi district, felt a sharp chest pain on May 11 and called for an ambulance. However, he was told that due to Covid-19 restrictions, the centre needed to contact different hospitals to see if they could admit patients.
An ambulance finally arrived 54 minutes after his son made the phone call, Song wrote, by which time his son had already collapsed.
When the ambulance finally arrived at the Hospital of Shunyi District, no first aid worker was available to help. Song’s son was declared dead two hours later.
“My son lost his life because the Shunyi first aid centre and hospital neglected their responsibilities,” he wrote.
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In a statement on Friday, authorities said the Shunyi district government and Beijing health authorities were investigating the centre and the hospital over the case, and would inspect all first aid centres and hospitals in the district.