Mother blames CRH for politician son’s death

WESTERN BUREAU:

Dr Delroy Fray, clinical coordinator at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St James, has denied claims by the family of former People’s National Party (PNP) councillor candidate Ronaldo Jackson that he was inadequately treated before his death at the hospital on April 15.

Jackson, 27, reportedly visited a private doctor on the day before his death, complaining of back pain.

According to his mom, Lugel Maxwell-Jackson, the private facility administered fluids and an injection but referred him to CRH due to limited resources.

“He was feeling lower back pain on Monday. We took him to a private doctor. They were treating him with hydration fluid and gave him an injection, [but] it wouldn’t ease the pain. They gave us a referral to go to Cornwall Regional, and he did not want to go. He did not want to go. But they said that because they don’t have the facility at the private place, we should just rush with him there,” she recounted. “He spent the night there, and they discharged him on Tuesday morning.”

Maxwell-Jackson said shortly after being discharged, Jackson’s condition deteriorated. His breathing became laboured after taking prescribed medications – Cataflam and 30mg of morphine – prompting his return to CRH later that day.

“When I went back there with him, I cried out for a stretcher. A wheelchair came instead of a stretcher, and I had to be screaming on the top of my lungs that I needed a stretcher. He was there, trying to gasp for breath, and they came up with a wheelchair and wheeled him in. They then took him and put him on the stretcher. His breathing was off, and they were there pumping [his chest]. I can’t imagine a hospital that doesn’t have a defibrillator that you can shock somebody back to life. They don’t have anything there. They used their hand and said he was losing consciousness.

“They put the oxygen [mask] on him, which looked like there was not even enough oxygen coming out of the thing. I noticed he regained consciousness, and he held the thing over his nose. And I see him like he was breathless. I said, ‘Ronaldo, are you getting enough oxygen?’ He said, ‘No, Mommy.’ I asked the doctor to help him because he was not getting enough oxygen, and the doctor stood there staring at me,” she said.

Maxwell-Jackson said a doctor later told her that they would insert a breathing tube and asked her to leave the room. Minutes later, she was informed that her son – who had sickle cell disease – had died.

When contacted, Fray refuted claims about a lack of emergency equipment at the hospital.

“Every department where you have to deal with emergencies has defibrillators. There was also no oxygen trouble at all. Since COVID, we have had no oxygen problem. None whatsoever,” he said.

“The truth is if you are in western Jamaica and have a real emergency, a gunshot wound or a major motor vehicle accident, the only place that can save your life is Cornwall Regional,” said Fray.

“We have a system that deals with emergencies right away. The operating theatre is at the back of the hospital, and we have an ambulance that doesn’t leave the hospital [grounds], so if you need to go around there, we’ll take you,” he added.

Still, Maxwell-Jackson is unconvinced.

“[The doctor] told me that they did all they could,” she said, noting that her son had dreams of becoming an elected politician and businessman.

“They could have done more for him. If he had been getting the proper oxygen, I think he would be alive today,” she insisted.

“Ronaldo was very exceptional, loving, and kind. He was a selfless child. He would have his last and give it away. I truly believe that God only takes the best. He was born with an inherited disease, sickle cell, … but he was very healthy, vibrant, and he went on with his life. He didn’t let that stop him from doing anything or entering any sports. And looking at him, you couldn’t tell,” she said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com