The hospital refused to comment on the allegations.
David Alexander Bell's fate might have been different if the hospital he relied on showed the compassion to admit him and treat his illness. However, they didn't. According to People, the 39-year-old underwent the tragic fate of having to die in the parking lot of the same hospital.
David from Missouri had been experiencing extreme chest pain from the first week of January 2021. Concerned about his situation, his wife Sadie drove him to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters. But their drive to the hospital was futile. The staff refused to admit him. Though they visited the same hospital again, the staff showed the same attitude. They prescribed an Ibuprofen and asked him to go home.
Despite his condition, David returned to work. Unfortunately, he fell ill again at work. His colleagues at the Central County Fire & Rescue (CCFR) rushed him to the hospital again. When his wife was informed about the incident, she asked his colleagues about the hospital they had taken him to. His colleagues told her it was Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Sadie rushed to the hospital and was disturbed to find her husband in a wheelchair outside the medical facility. The distraught woman informed doctors of David's condition and requested them to conduct a few tests on him. However, their answer was just another no. They told the woman, "He's already been here twice for the same thing and we've already diagnosed him."
Unable to convince the hospital to diagnose him, the woman was forced to leave with her husband. Sadly, David did not even make it to their vehicle. He passed away in the parking lot.
Man Dies in Parking Lot After Hospital Refuses to Treat Him, Says His Widow https://t.co/XWP88LyFKf
— People (@people) January 30, 2021
Speaking of her husband's death, Sadie said she wished her colleagues had taken David to another hospital. "Every time that we have taken him, all they did was give him Ibuprofen and sent him home, and I'm really thinking they are missing something," said the woman, according to KMOV4.
If I were his family, I would sue the hospital PERIOD.
— redefineart_boutique (@RedefineartB) January 30, 2021
She added, "I don't know what they thought and I just don't understand why they wouldn't help him. I don't want any family to feel what we're feeling right now."
The hospital, on the other hand, did not comment on the allegations. Instead, they stated, "Our thoughts are with the family after this loss, as well as with the entire Central County Fire & Rescue team." They added they could not comment further due to patient privacy laws.
Hardly. I went to the ER today with severe abdominal pain. I was 90% sure it was a ruptured ovarian cyst because I've had them before. They ran a couple tests but didn't do the scan that would have confirmed my guess and treated me like a drug addict looking for opiates.
— Proud cat mama 🐱 (@becca_chan88) January 30, 2021
David's death was heartbreaking to the ones who loved him. "We are all better for having known and worked with you to support and protect our community. We overcame some tremendous challenges and accomplished some amazing things under your leadership," said CCFR in a statement.
They further added, "David, we will miss your smile and the positive presence you brought to any room. We know that your faith in God was an integral part of your life. Rest in peace, friend."
A GoFund Me Page has been launched to help David's family with the funeral expenses.
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/man-dies-in-parking-lot-after-hospital-refuses-to-treat-him-says-family/
https://www.kmov.com/news/st-peters-father-dies-in-hospital-parking-lot-after-family-says-hospital-refused-treatment/article_877c7a4a-61cf-11eb-b4f8-23406ce38421.html
https://www.gofundme.com/f/a4ee58-david-bell-memorial-fund?sharetype=teams&member=8071102&pc=fb_co_campmgmt_m&rcid=r01-161077378287-e96f444d1a4e487e&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_lico%2Bshare-sheet&fbclid=IwAR1CjE0HQmCWU5ZddnzLqtcUNpNwMruKdPMIY51mkFInSwaVgpmg6x52S4Q
