Pregnant woman jumps to her death from hospital in Guyana, probe launched

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the death of a 22-year-old pregnant woman, who is reported to have jumped to her death from a window of the female medical ward on the third floor of the building.

The authorities said that Marissa Eastman, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who was six months pregnant, jumped to her death on Sunday evening.

She was admitted to the hospital earlier on Sunday after relatives became concerned about what they described as her increasingly abnormal behaviour.

In a statement, the hospital said that it is conducting a full internal investigation and that when the woman was admitted, a psychiatric evaluation was done, but there were no psychotic symptoms or suicidal thoughts identified.

It also said that as part of the investigation process, the hospital will also review existing protocols related to patient observation and mental health monitoring, including suicide watch policies, to identify any areas for strengthening patient safety.

Further, the hospital said it has offered psychosocial and psychiatric support to both relatives and staff affected by the incident.

But relatives have told local media outlets that they are struggling to understand how a patient displaying clear psychological distress was able to leave her bed unaccompanied, access a window, and allegedly jump from such a height without intervention.

Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

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