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FORGOTTEN: On Saturday, emergency services moved after being notified of the discovery of a lifeless man in an apartment in Sinsen. The deceased remained in the same place until Monday. Photo: Kyrre Lien
The deceased man was confirmed dead at the scene by ambulance on Saturday. Then he was in bed for three days. – It shouldn’t happen, says the AMK leader.
On Saturday 10 October, the police and the ambulance withdrew after a man in his 80s was found dead in his Sinsen apartment in Oslo.
It was a neighbor who notified the emergency services about the deceased.
According to standard procedures, the deceased had to be picked up the same day. It did not happen. On Monday, a relative learned that the deceased was not yet on the death registry. Therefore, the error was detected.
Now the head of the ER, Jon Ørstavik, confirms that the deceased was not picked up for three days.
– There has probably been a misunderstanding between the players here, which is very unfortunate. It is a known fact that it is often at handover between various services and stages that this can happen.
Possible fault between agencies
In all cases where deaths are reported, both the police and the ambulance move, Ørstavik says. If nothing criminal is suspected, the Emergency Medical Communication Center (AMK) contacts the emergency room for further follow-up.
– It is usual for a doctor to come and confirm the death the same day, so that the deceased can be transported to the chapel, Ørstavik points out.
You still can’t tell where the communication has failed this time.
– The failure has occurred somewhere between the police, the emergency room and AMK.
The Oslo police district confirms to VG that they moved in on Saturday. As there was no reason to suspect anything criminal, the police have already closed the case.
Unknown phenomenon
Anne-Liste Kristensen, an advocate for patients and users in Oslo and Akershus, believes the case is unlike anything she has heard of before.
– It is a sad and bad offense, and it is always regrettable with communication failures. You need to make sure this is cleaned up, Kristensen notes.
Ørstavik says that they are now working to unravel what happened and that they are trying to figure out whether it is a personal mistake or a routine failure.
– Since the Oslo University Hospital manages the ambulance service and the Oslo Municipality manages the emergency room, we must work together to find the cause when errors and misunderstandings occur.
– Sorry case
AMK leader Egil Johannesen confirms that he is aware of the case and that the ambulance was with the deceased on Saturday. It also confirms that it is AMK who will then contact the emergency room and that it was also done here, but that in this case it is not clear what was communicated and how the emergency room has perceived it.
– It is the dialogue with the emergency room that we have to look a little more closely. We have to talk to those involved and see that everyone has followed the routines, says Johannesen.
The AMK leader is unaware that there have been similar cases before. In collaboration with the ER, they will now investigate where the communication failure occurred.
– Of course, it is a very regrettable case. That’s not going to happen.
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this case, Jon Ørstavik was referred to as Jan Ørstavik. This was modified on 10/14/2020 at 10:39 PM.
