Press Release – Government Press Office, Belmopan – October 5, 2011. On Wednesday October 5th at approximately 11:20am, an incident occurred in the Intensive Care Unit of the Western Regional Hospital where a patient inflicted a stab wound upon himself in the presence of hospital staff and another patient while receiving treatment.
The patient, a 66 year old Belizean farmer had received initial consultation treatment at the Valley of Peace clinic and was referred to Western Regional Hospital where he was admitted on Saturday October 1st, 2011. He has been receiving treatment since Saturday to stabilize his condition.
Earlier today the patient experienced respiratory distress. He complained of trouble breathing and pain in the chest area. The hospital internist was called in and worked along with the nurses to help relieve the patient’s state of distress.
At approximately 11a.m., the patient once again became very distressed and aggressive towards the attending nurse in the ward. The nurse called for the assistance of a male attendant to accompany her to the patient’s room that was also occupied by another male patient who was being visited at the time by a family member. Upon returning to the room at the entrance of the door, the nurse along with the attendant witnessed the patient shouting.
He suddenly grabbed one of the window louvers, broke it and started to advance towards the staffers. The male attendant then attempted to impede the advance of the patient with the broken louver being pointed towards the staff. They retreated and kept asking the patient to refrain from trying to harm anyone including himself. He collapsed at the bed foot and managed to stab himself in the chest. The nurse and attendant did not initially react because Mr. Holland threatened their lives. They attempted to get additional assistance from other staffers including security.
The patient was subsequently rushed to the operating theatre at Western Regional Hospital and later transferred to KHMH.
