Family Seeks Answers Following Elderly Man’s Death at NRH

It’s a heartbreaking story out of Orange Walk tonight. A family is demanding answers after a ninety-two-year-old man died while waiting for medical attention at the Northern Regional Hospital. Eusebio Espinoza Junior says he rushed his father, Eusebio Espinoza Senior, to the hospital on Saturday afternoon after he began experiencing severe pain. But instead of getting immediate help, the elderly man reportedly sat in the waiting area for over an hour, pleading for relief. According to Espinoza, his father slowly began to fade right before their eyes. And by the time medical staff responded, it was too late. Tonight, Health Minister Kevin Bernard is calling for a full investigation into the incident. He’s warning that if any medical professional is found to have neglected their duty, there will be consequences. We spoke with the grieving son today, and his story is one that’s sparking outrage and calls for accountability.

 

Eusebio Espinoza Jr., Son of Deceased

“Like five forty-five we reached the hospital and checked in at triage. The nurse checked my dad’s vitals, diabetic, pressure, I told her my dad is not a diabetic person. He feels sick because of his prostate enlargement and he suffers from high blood pressure. I asked to please rush him in to put the drips on him. She said, sir we have to go through our procedures. I said, aright I understand. From there the nurse took in the paper in emergency room and told us to wait outside triage. So, we wait. My girlfriend told me babe won’t they check dad, because time is going. I told her I will go check. I said, goodnight can you please check my dad because he done check triage and is in a lot of pain. They said, goodnight we are busy, you need to wait outside. I told them alright. But at the same time they had a lot of patients, a lot of kids that night. So, everybody the go through their things, and I don’t want to be grumpy. I try being patient. I gone check. Til after about four times. Before I went in, the prime minister Mr. Briceno came in and I told him good night, sir. He said, is that your dad, don’t you want to go in? I told him, sir everything ok, just the wait out. Prime minister gone and check on his people. Before my dad’s pulse gone very low then the prime minister come back and watched us and said, how old your dad. I said, sir he is ninety-two. Minister Briceno told me, I won’t live to reach those age. I said, sir you just have to eat right and you will see those ages. But before he gone he told me, you don’t want to go in? I said, no sir. After he went, my girlfriend rushed in when he saw my dad no breathing. She said, my father in law is not breathing. That is when all the nurses, doctors, started to rush and bring him in. He carried him in and they put him on the machine. One of the doctors called me and told me that we checked your dad and no vitals. It hurt me because I was waiting there for an hour.”