A 41-year-old man died in the emergency room of Châteauguay Hospital yesterday afternoon after waiting for an ambulance for 45 minutes due to chest pains.
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“The paramedics are stunned by what happened,” reacts Gaétan Dutil, president of the paramedic union of the Cooperative of Ambulance Technicians of Montérégie (CETAM).
In the last three months, this is the third published case of a patient who died in the emergency room of the Anna Laberge Hospital in Châteauguay. In early December, two patients died within two days without seeing a doctor.
46 minute delay
Yesterday at 1:18 p.m. CETAM received a call for a 41-year-old man from Saint-Philippe-de-La-Prairie (his identity is protected) who, according to our information, was experiencing chest pains. His case has been classified as priority 3, meaning an ambulance will be dispatched immediately but the case is considered “non-urgent.”
However, the ambulance that served him was reassigned twice due to more urgent cases. The paramedics finally arrived with the patient at 2:04 p.m., confirms the CETAM supervisor.
“The 45 minutes that were needed are 45 minutes less to identify the problem,” laments Gaétan Dutil.
Gaétan Dutil, president of the regional CSN union for paramedics in Montérégie. Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, February 28, 2024. PIERRE-PAUL POULIN/LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL/AGENCY QMI Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / Agence QMI
“Would he still be alive if he had been taken care of quicker?” he asks without having an answer.
During the transport to the Anna Laberge Hospital in Châteauguay, the patient's usual tests were carried out and the paramedics informed the emergency management of their journey. The patient was conscious upon arrival.
Well seen at triage
Asked about this issue, the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Montérégie-Ouest confirmed that the patient was examined by a nurse in triage.
“Based on the information we currently have, we can confirm that the procedures were appropriately followed,” wrote Jade St-Jean, spokesperson for the CISSS.
“Unfortunately, even when triage is rigorous and all testing is done appropriately, certain health problems can quickly worsen,” she adds.
According to our information, after triage, the patient went to the toilet and was sent to the waiting room, where his condition worsened. He died quickly. The union emphasizes that the paramedics who transported him were still on site at the time of his death.
The coroner's office confirms it has opened an investigation into this death. According to Mr Dutil, this case shows that the problem of the lack of ambulances on the road must be given priority.
“If we don’t add more vehicles, we will have other problems too,” he complains.
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