A Cuban man has reported the death of his brother in Cienfuegos, alleging it resulted from suspected medical negligence and lack of care at Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital. The man passed away in the early hours of July 1st, and his brother recounted the events on Facebook.
"At midnight, my brother was killed at Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital due to the lack of medical assistance," the man claimed. He detailed that his brother had been admitted with pneumonia and left waiting in the observation room for an extended period, "without even being given an antibiotic, only a dextrose solution."
The man further explained that he had to personally seek out doctors because the nurses on duty did not attend to his brother. "After much insistence from me, a doctor finally came to see him and gave him a single pill, two hours after his admission," he lamented.
"And then we say that Cuba is a medical powerhouse," he added, highlighting that "of course, for those with connections or government officials, the healthcare system works well. Let's all share this so people see what life in Cuba is really like."
Hospital Conditions Under Scrutiny
A recent complaint has sparked discussions about the conditions at Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital. One social media user described the facility as "a pigsty," sharing images of its unhygienic and unsanitary conditions. "This is not a landfill, but images from the very ward where dengue patients are housed in the Hospital of Cienfuegos, complete with cockroaches to add to the horror," stated the administrator of the Facebook group ‘Molinos’.
Activist Yamil Cuéllar emphasized that the hospital's decline has been ongoing for some time. He noted that even the doctors at the institution recommend that patients’ families transfer them to other facilities for their own well-being.
Other reports of medical negligence in Cuban hospitals have surfaced, including the death of a four-year-old boy in Santiago de Cuba. "He developed something in his nose that turned into cellulitis. It seems the infection spread, and he caught a bacteria. They took him to the doctor because he was in a lot of pain, and you know how medical care in Cuba is – they didn't give him the right medication. They were managing him with pills, but that wasn't what he needed," a family member recounted in an audio recording to journalist Yosmany Mayeta.
In April, a young mother expressed her outrage near the Tomás Romay Polyclinic in Old Havana, following the death of her six-month-old baby from respiratory arrest, allegedly due to medical negligence at the facility.
Understanding Medical Negligence in Cuba
Given the troubling reports of medical negligence in Cuban hospitals, it is crucial to address common questions and concerns surrounding the quality of healthcare in the country.
What are common signs of medical negligence in Cuba?
Common signs include lack of timely medical assistance, improper or delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and unsanitary hospital conditions.
How can one report medical negligence in Cuba?
Reports can be made through social media platforms, local advocacy groups, or directly to hospital administration, although the latter often does not yield satisfactory results.
What should patients do if they suspect negligence in a Cuban hospital?
Patients should seek immediate second opinions, document all interactions and treatments, and consider transferring to another facility if possible.