Sickle Cell Patients Left in Pain in Bahrain
Okay, last month, the news out of Bahrain was that sickle cell patients where dying left and right IN the hospitals, due to lack of care on the part of the medical staff and the long wait in the emergency room. The news broke today that sickle cell patients are being left in PAIN for hours while in the HOSPITAL! This just breaks my heart. I know that we gripe on here alot about the way we are treated in US hospitals, but people in other countries like Bahrain have it alot worse!
To prevent overdosing, a new rule was instituted at Salmaniya Medical Center that has pain meds being only given every 8 hours, essentially, only 3 times a day. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in crises enough to be in the hospital, I need pain meds at a maximum duration of every 1.5 hours. It’s so hard to envision our compatriots suffering like this, while in the hospital. There is no excuse!
To add kerosene to the fire, the wait in the Emergency Department is sometimes as long as 48 hours as they prioritize sickle cell patients low on the totem pole (which is why 8 patients died last quarter waiting for treatment!).
I am beyond incensed and my heart goes out to all the sickle cell warriors in Bahrain and other countries abroad that are finding it so difficult to get the care that they need. It kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?
Read the full news article HERE.
1) How long have you been diagnosed with Hemoglobin S?
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