[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: A COVID-19 patient who was found immobile on the third floor of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in April fell from a height and no dirty act is suspected in his death, the investigating officer told the forensic court on Thursday (24 May September).
Alagu Periyakaruppan, a 46-year-old Indian national, died from injuries sustained in the fall, the officer said.
An autopsy found that he had injuries such as a broken heart, bleeding from the chest cavities, fractured ribs and bleeding on the surface of the brain. There was no evidence of pneumonia, the investigating officer said.
The police report indicated that Mr. Periyakaruppan likely removed a window pane next to his bed in a ward, where he stayed with another COVID-19 patient. He then came out and fell from the seventh floor, landing on the third floor.
Mr. Periyakaruppan was admitted to the hospital on April 19 when he complained of a headache and fever, and a swab test later confirmed that he had contracted COVID-19.
At approximately 5.30 am on April 23, Mr. Periyakaruppan filmed two videos in his living room bathroom.
In one of the videos, he said: “The doctors are saying that I have coronavirus. Therefore, I do not want to stay alive. I am ready to lose my life. No one and nothing has anything to do with this. I have recorded this.” with a sober mind “.
At approximately 6.15am, a staff nurse donning her protective gear outside Mr. Periyakaruppan’s cubicle heard a thud and thought she might have fallen.
He looked in and saw the other COVID-19 patient sitting, but couldn’t find Mr. Periyakaruppan. When she couldn’t find him in the bathroom, she went to her bed and noticed that one of the window panes had been removed and placed on the floor. A metal hook was later found next to the window, which could have been used to dislodge the glass.
There was a pair of black slippers by the window and a search was carried out for Mr. Periyakaruppan.
They found him lying on an outdoor stair landing on the third floor in his hospital gown. An attempt was made to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead that same morning.
The case was declared forensic shortly after and investigations began.
Mr. Periyakaruppan was a construction worker at Multi-Lines Engineering, and his wife told TODAY after his death that she had no idea that he had even been hospitalized for COVID-19.
Periyakaruppan’s nephew attended the hearing on Thursday and asked if he could obtain the death certificate for insurance claims. The coroner will issue his findings at a later date.
FOCUS: The long and challenging journey to control COVID-19 in the dormitories of migrant workers
NO LAPSE FOUND: HOSPITAL COMMITTEE
The chairman of a committee convened by the hospital after Mr. Periyakaruppan’s death told the court that no fault was found in the clinical care provided to Mr. Periyakaruppan.
He said the incident was reviewed and “we believe adequate attention was provided.” “There was no indication that the patient exhibited suicidal thoughts or behaviors” and the incident “was neither predictable nor preventable,” said Dr. Goh Kah Hong.
He said that Mr. Periyakaruppan, like other COVID-19 patients, would have been told that he could recover from the disease.
Mr. Periyakaruppan was found to be pleasant and helpful, helping other patients during meals and showing no signs of suicide risk, although he was “a bit quiet”.
“He mentioned some concerns about his financial future, in addition to worrying about his children in India,” Dr. Goh said. “Those were common concerns for patients in similar situations.”
Periyakaruppan had made the expected progress without complications and was on his way to be transferred to a community isolation facility, he said.
READ: COVID 19: No increase in number of migrant worker suicides, says MOM
While no lapse in care was found, the committee made some recommendations, such as measures to address patients’ feelings of isolation and fear.
The nurses said the foreign workers were good patients and not picky, according to Dr. Goh. But some workers struggled to understand what COVID-19 is and repeatedly asked why they were in the hospital.
Dr. Goh said that the hospital had an interpreter service and also translated materials, and that patients were informed about their conditions in languages they understood.
“The number of patients was overwhelming,” Dr. Goh said, referring to the pandemic situation at the time. “We did the best we could.”
Where to get help: Samaritans of Singapore operates a 24-hour hotline at 1800 221 4444, or you can send an email to [email protected]. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
