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Shawn Bennett, brother the deceased
Scores of placard-bearing relatives and friends of a diver who died at St. Ann's Bay Regional Hospital on Friday gathered outside the institution Thursday morning.
The deceased has been identified as 33 year-old Kirby Smallhorn.
They are accusing the hospital of medical negligence, claiming that it failed to adequately provide care for Mr. Smallhorn.
Mr. Smallhorn was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the St. Ann's Bay Regional Hospital with symptoms of decompression illness.
Decompression illness is associated with the sudden decrease in pressures during underwater ascent, usually occurring during dives.
Mr. Smallhorn's brother, Shawn Bennett, believes that the hospital did not act in a timely manner, given his brother's condition.
Mr. Bennett said he contacted the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory which offers hyperbaric oxygen to treat his brother's condition. However, the hospital did not have an ambulance to transport him to the location.
In a statement Wednesday night, the North East Regional Health Authority said the patient's clinical symptoms deteriorated while preparations were being made for his transfer to the facility.
It disclosed that senior management of the hospital had an initial meeting with the family of the deceased in keeping with the Complaint Mechanism System.
Notification has also been received from the attorney representing the family.
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