No word yet on alleged UHWI snub of asthma patient
Published:Thursday | March 18, 2021 | 12:23 AM
Two weeks after the launch of an investigation into the death of 17-year-old JaLisa McGowan, the family is yet to receive a report on the findings of the probe.
McGowan was rushed to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) by her mom, Narda McKoy, while experiencing an asthma attack on the night of Friday, February 26.
It is alleged that JaLisa was denied treatment for nearly two hours at the UHWI and was eventually transferred by McKoy and her husband to the Andrews Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The public relations officer of the UHWI, Nordia Francis-Willams, told The Gleaner just over a week ago that the report was completed and sent to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Portfolio minister Dr Christopher Tufton had confirmed receipt of the report and said that Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie was probing the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.
“She is finishing up her report. When it’s completed, [we] will share the general recommendations,” he said on Wednesday.
McKoy said she was fearful that medical officials were trying to “cover up” what took place that night at the UHWI.
“Nobody nuh call me, I don’t hear anything from not even a soul. It’s like it never happened,” McKoy told The Gleaner on Wednesday via a telephone call.
She explained that both the UHWI and the Ministry of Health have been mum since Tufton had called her to inquire about the incident and express condolences.
“What’s next?” she asked.
“This thing a haunt me ... . Last thing before me go to bed and first when mi wake up.”
McKoy said the family felt disrespected in how the matter has been handled.
The Bedward Gardens mother said she was cognisant that the silence from health officials might cause people to infer that she was trying to create public mischief.