An alleged incident has stirred controversy after reports that a 102-year-old woman was left tied up without water for six hours on a stretcher in the Emergency Department of Larnaca Hospital.
The revelation was brought to light by gerontologist Marios Kyriazis, who called on the new Health Minister to take immediate action.
The woman’s son, Moisis Moisi, recounted the incident to philenews, stating that on December 15 at 2:30 pm, his mother was transported by ambulance to the Accident and Emergency Department of Larnaca Hospital following the advice of medical staff due to health issues.
“Until 5 pm, we had no updates on her health. That’s when I went to the back and found her in the corridor between the radiology and emergency departments. She was bound, just as they brought her in with the ambulance, and left her unattended. She asked me for water. When the private security guard saw me, she forcefully ordered me to leave, claiming it was forbidden. We waited outside for hours despite our attempts to get information. Every time we saw someone in a gown, they would say, ‘later, later…’. This continued until 8:30 pm when the shift changed. A doctor finally came out and inquired about our mom’s condition, and that’s when they began the examination.
“At 9:45 pm, they informed us that she didn’t need to stay inside, and we took her and left.” Moisi reported the incident to gerontologist Marios Kyriazis, who, in a Facebook post today, wrote: “Yesterday, I was told about a 102-year-old mother who was tethered to a stretcher in the Emergency Department at Larnaca Hospital without water for six hours. Relatives attempting to stay with her were forcibly ejected by security. Furthermore, a specific doctor treated them with disrespect.
I felt saddened, disappointed, but sadly not surprised. I was disappointed once again that such incidents are not shocking anymore; they have become commonplace. Inhumane, yet sadly ordinary. Subsequently, I felt ashamed to be a doctor. I wish the new Health Minister success and recommend he familiarise himself with the case of the Augean Stables.”
According to information from the Ministry of Health, Larnaca General Hospital is currently investigating the complaint.
