{"id":139195,"date":"2021-10-07T19:39:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T23:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=139195"},"modified":"2021-10-07T20:24:45","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T00:24:45","slug":"sir-lester-bird-medical-centre-addresses-claims-of-missing-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/sir-lester-bird-medical-centre-addresses-claims-of-missing-body\/","title":{"rendered":"Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Addresses Claims of Missing Body"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) wishes to express its deep dissatisfaction\u00a0 \u00a0following the publication of the article:\u00a0Family Complains They Cannot Find Body of COVID Victim Who Died Since September 25 And Hospital Director is Saying Nothing.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

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We find this erroneous and egregious charge leveled against our hospital\u2014which has gained significant attention\u2014disturbing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt no time was any member of the hospital\u2019s management team contacted by the author or media outlets to check the veracity of the report being made,\u201d said Dr. Albert Duncan, SLBMC Medical Director.<\/p>

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\u201cThis news article, which baselessly suggested that our hospital had misplaced a body, is reckless and irresponsible journalism and fear mongering by these media outlets\u2014and does nothing but serve to undermine the public\u2019s trust in our hospital. We also have no record of being contacted by any member of the deceased\u2019s family inquiring about their loved-one, after following up with the funeral home of their choice\u2014which would have been the first place to start since the body of the deceased was released in their care.\u201d<\/p>

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There are certain procedures which are followed shortly after a patient dies at our hospital.<\/p>\n

A part of this involves the next-of kin being notified of the death and being asked to confirm their preferred choice for funeral home. Once this decision is made, either the hospital or a family member will call the selected funeral home and make arrangements for the body to be transported.<\/p>

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This is a decision that is made by the family and not the hospital. In this instance, the appropriate family member was duly notified when their loved one died, and the Barnes Funeral Home was selected for burial arrangements. The family was also in contact with the funeral home about said arrangements.<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve said before, we cannot respond to every attention-grabbing headline, news article or social media post. The professionals of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre are focused on saving lives and keeping people well\u2014and that precious time should not be wasted on addressing stories which are offensive and unfounded.<\/p>

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We realize we are accountable to the public and constantly work hard to live up to that responsibility. However, in the midst of so much other misinformation our communities are struggling to make sense of, the least this journalist and media outlets can do is not add to it.<\/p>

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Family complains they cannot find body of COVID victim<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n