Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death

[Ronan Kelly]

Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death
Updated: Wed Nov. 11 2009 18:18:38

ctvbc.ca


The fianc? of an asthmatic woman who died from H1N1 after being turned away from Richmond General Hospital several times can't believe doctors didn't catch it.


"The value of human life, it's got to be more than that," Dave Palen told CTV News.


His partner, 51-year-old Mae Mah, went to hospital twice with breathing trouble, sinus congestion and a fever in 48 hours. Hours after her second hospital visit Nov. 1, she went into cardiac arrest and died.


The woman Palen called 'Maisy Daisy' was sent home after each hospital visit without being tested for H1N1.


"To just process people and throw them back on the street there's no excuse," Palen said.


B.C.'s health minister is trying to reassure people about the level of care in hospitals after Mah's death. Kevin Falcon offered condolences to the family but said people shouldn't rush to comment.


"This will be reviewed by hospital staff and the physicians involved," he said. "And if the family wishes, they can make a complaint."


Jennifer Schulz is skeptical. Three months ago when she was 38 months pregnant, she and her very sick boyfriend were sent home by Richmond General.


Doctors said he had a cold or the seasonal flu. She was later rushed in for an emergency C-section when it was learned he had H1N1.


The hospital was supposed to follow up with Shultz but she never heard back.


"Our situation should have made them go 'okay, we're under the microscope, we need to step it up a notch.' But they didn't."


Meanwhile, Mae Mah's family claims the hospital was negligent.


"This shouldn't have happened," her daughter, Tiffany Yung, told CTV News Tuesday.

"They should have done something. If they did, she would probably still be here."

Hard to diagnose

An H1N1 expert says diagnosing the virus in asthmatics can be difficult. Symptoms can calm down and then spike up unexpectedly.

But Dr. Anand Kumar said given the current pandemic, and the fact viral infections tend to make asthma worse, he'd err on the side of caution.

"It doesn't specifically say H1N1. It does say there is something you want to pay attention to, that there may be more going on than just a routine asthma flare," he said.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry


http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/...ncee_091111/20091111/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

 

[hornblower]

Re: Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-co...ne-flu-victim-undiagnosed.html#socialcomments

Negligence in swine flu death: family

Sent home twice from hospital ER

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | 5:25 PM PT Comments13Recommend27CBC News

An investigation has been launched into one of B.C.'s latest swine flu deaths as the family of the asthmatic victim alleges negligence on the part of Richmond Hospital.

Mae Mah, 51, of Richmond, went to the emergency room Oct. 31 while suffering an asthma attack and was treated by doctors and sent home, her family told CBC News.

The next day, Mah had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance after experiencing shortness of breath, this time accompanied by fever. Doctors gave her Tylenol and again sent her home.

Later on Nov. 1, Mah collapsed at home and was again taken by ambulance to hospital.

Doctors admitted Mah to the intensive care unit and put her on a ventilator. She died later that day.

The hospital later told the family Mah, a chronic asthmatic, had the H1N1 virus.

"Deep down, I'm angry and frustrated that this had to happen to my mom," said Mah's daughter, Tiffany Yung, 22.

"She phoned me and she was joking around with me and saying, 'I'm not dead yet,' and, 'I'll see you soon.' But I never saw her again, alive," said Yung.

'I think they were negligent'
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority ? in charge of Richmond Hospital ? said an investigation of Mah's case is underway.

"The purpose of the review is to ensure that care was provided appropriately," said authority spokeswoman Maureen Malanchuk.

Yung believes her mother's case was bungled.

"I think they were negligent," she said. "I think they should have done something differently."

Malanchuk said she expects the review of Mah's case to be completed by the end of the week.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death

From Hornblower's link:

Mae Mah died in hospital after twice being sent home after complaining of shortness of breath. (CBC)

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death

Richmond Hospital not at fault in H1N1 death, review finds

By denise Ryan , Vancouver Sun
November 22, 2009 4:02 PM

METRO VANCOUVER - A Vancouver Coastal Health review has found that Richmond Hospital was not at fault in the death of a Richmond woman who died of H1N1 after being sent home from the hospital twice.

Mae Mah, 51, died of H1N1 on Nov. 1, hours after being sent home from Richmond Hospital. She had also been to the hospital the day before.

Mah had asthma, and had been experiencing breathing problems and fever, but H1N1 was not diagnosed until after her death.

?From Vancouver Coastal?s point of view there is no indication of negligence on the part of any staff,? said James Nesbitt, a VCH spokesman.

?We are meeting with the family, at their request in December, as a final step before the review can be complete.?

Nesbitt said all factors are taken into consideration when a VCH review is conducted. To get an accurate picture, Nesbitt said VCH looked at the patient?s underlying health conditions, and other treatments, the presence of H1N1 virus, and spoke to doctors, nurses and hospital administrators.

?The individual was in a high risk group for H1N1, she was asthmatic,? said Nesbitt. ?VCH is reminding everyone who hasn?t been inoculated to get an H1N1 shot.?

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/...lt+H1N1+death+review+finds/2253946/story.html

 

[hornblower]

Re: Fianc? blames hospital for H1N1 death

Richmond Hospital not at fault in H1N1 death, review finds
?The individual was in a high risk group for H1N1, she was asthmatic,? said Nesbitt. ?VCH is reminding everyone who hasn?t been inoculated to get an H1N1 shot.?

just an NB - Vaccines were not available in BC until October 26th; this individual first attended emerg on Oct 31. Even if she had been vax'd at first avail opportunity, it's unlikely she would have built up immunity to the virus that quickly.