JOHOR BARU: The Johor Health Department is looking into claims made by the family of a 38-year-old man, who allege that his death was due to the delayed arrival of an ambulance.
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State Health director Dr Mohtar Pungut@Ahmad said the incident took place at about 1.30am on June 27, when the man was brought to the Paloh health clinic in Kluang after his family found him unconscious at home.
“Upon arrival, the victim displayed no signs of life. The clinic’s staff immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used oxygen support and an automated external defibrillator on him as the patient’s condition had to be stabilised before referring him or her to the hospital,” said Dr Mohtar.
He added in a statement issued on Monday (July 3) that a call for an ambulance from Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom was made and the ambulance arrived at 2.50am.
Dr Mohtar said the patient was pronounced dead at 3.15am and his body was brought to the hospital, which is about 33km away from the Paloh health clinic, for the necessary action.
The cause of death is still under investigation, he added.
“The state health department is looking into the claim reported by a Chinese daily on Sunday (July 2) as there are a few aspects that should be noted, including the distance between the Paloh health clinic and the hospital as well as ambulance facilities,” said Dr Mohtar.
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“We are taking this matter seriously and the Kluang health office will also be carrying out the following investigations and consultations with the relevant parties including the patient’s family,” he added.
According to the Chinese daily, the man’s elder sister claimed that the ambulance service at the Paloh clinic was halted as it had broken down at the time of the incident.
“We were informed that an ambulance had to be called from the (Kluang) hospital but why did it take close to two hours for it to arrive? My brother had already passed away by then,” she said.
The man, who worked as a salesman, is survived by his pregnant wife and two children aged 16 and four.
– The Star