Three deaths as of Monday, 25 October, two of which were in self-isolation and one supposedly due to a delay in the Domiciliary Monitoring Unit (DMU) to attend. All this question the efficiency of the entire system established by the Ministry of Health which is supposed to assess the condition of asymptomatic patients who do not require observation in a hospital, and also to intervene urgently at the slightest telephone call from a person in charge of a patient in self isolation. The relatives of the victims are asking for a revision in these health protocols. Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal announced the opening of an investigation and said sanctions will be taken against the DMU if the medical negligence claim is proven.
The victims are mainly aged 32, 34 and 66, a rejuvenation of the population of victims of covid 19.
34 years old – Covid-19 Pneumonia
The first case concerns a call center employee, a 34-year-old father who, as a precautionary measure, was self-insulated at his parents’ home in Vacoas, a place better suited to his needs. He discovered his positive status after a Rapid Test. His situation reportedly deteriorated at 5:30 am on Monday, with calls for an intervention from the DMU going unanswered. However, a team responded more than three hours later. The patient could not be transported to the hospital and died at around 11 a.m. Attempts at resuscitation by the EMS on site half an hour later were unsuccessful. The autopsy done in the evening by the head of the forensic department of the police, Dr Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, declared his death to be Pneumonia developed by the Covid 19 virus.
32 years old – Covid-19 Pneumonia
The same applies to the second case whose death was attributed to Covid-19 Pneumonia by Dr Sunnassee, Police Medical Officer. He is a resident of Vallée-des-Prêtres and manager of a large textile company. His condition deteriorated on Monday, 25 October. The DMU was contacted but by the time they arrived and the SAMU intervened, the victim had already given up the ghost. He was taken to the Jeetoo Hospital mortuary for an autopsy, which was attributed to Pneumonia developed by the Covid 19 virus. His funeral took place the same evening at Riche Terre Cemetery. As for this victim, feeling feverish and weak, he went to Jeetoo Hospital for a test on Tuesday, 19 October. He tested negative for Covid 19 while his wife was already positive. He was simply given paracetamol-based medication. They were asked to observe a 10-day self-isolation. Considering medical negligence during the test and an incomprehensible delay of the DMU, the victim’s sister filed a complaint at Abercrombie Police Station
66 years old – Other Comorbidity
The third case is that of Devendra Ramanah, the former Rector of Queen Elizabeth College (QEC). He was 66 years old and had been positive and in self-isolation for 3 weeks. His condition deteriorated on Sunday 17th and the DMU response took an inordinate amount of time according to his family. He was later admitted to the New ENT Hospital. He was put on a ventilator by Tuesday the 19th. He passed away on Monday, 25 October. His death was attributed to another comorbidity. His family decries the medical negligence but especially the inaction of the private sector to assist and help a person in difficulty.
For his part, the Minister of Health said “We have had the family’s version and now we are waiting to have the version of the Domiciliary Monitoring Unit to initiate an investigation. Sanctions will be taken if there was medical negligence. An inquiry to be closely followed…l from a person in charge of a patient in self-isolation. Relatives of the victims are calling for a review of these health protocols. Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal has announced an investigation and said that sanctions will be taken against the DMU if medical negligence is proven.
The DMU has allegedly failed three times and three times too many! The victims are mainly 32, 34, and 66 years old, a rejuvenation of the population of victims of Covid 19.
