Handyman dies while waiting for treatment

An air of sadness blanketed Afoo Supermarket on Tuesday as Esteban Caraballo’s colleagues reflected on his jovial and helpful nature. Caraballo (57) collapsed Sunday and died after “begging” for medical treatment in the waiting area of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) Emergency Room (ER) for about half an hour.

“He was groaning in pain and kept saying, ‘Please, let me see a doctor. I am going to die if I don’t see a doctor now,’” Francisco Bartolo, the colleague who rushed Caraballo to the hospital, told The Daily Herald at his job on Tuesday. These turned out to be Caraballo’s last words. He died some time around 10:00am, shortly after being wheeled into the emergency room after collapsing, Bartolo related.

In a statement issued late yesterday the hospital said after reviewing the incident that its staff had not been at fault. But Caraballo’s colleagues are adamant that he would still be alive had he received prompt medical care.

SMMC General Director Dr. George Scot said the hospital would request the Inspectorate of Public Health to conduct an independent investigation to determine whether “correct procedures were followed.”

Scot said Caraballo had visited the Emergency Room on Sunday while the medical staff was providing emergency care to a severe emergency case.

“The patient was told to wait, and while in the waiting area, he collapsed. At that moment all efforts were made: the patient was admitted to the ER and emergency procedures were administered by our ER staff and specialists. Despite our medical staff’s efforts, the patient passed away.”

Scot said due to ethical and privacy reasons he could not divulge details of the illness or the cause of death.

However, the colleagues of the Dominican Republic native are furious at what they considered a lengthy delay. Dolores Gomez said she had been working alongside the handyman early Sunday morning when he started complaining about excruciating pain along his right arm and neck area. “He was shaking and screaming,” she said.

Gomez held onto her colleague to prevent him from losing his balance and offered to give him a garlic concoction considered a natural remedy for certain ailments. He declined and said he wanted to be taken to the hospital post-haste.

Bartolo abandoned his duties and came to his colleague’s aid. He said initially he had been going to call the ambulance, but after seeing Caraballo’s condition he jumped into the company vehicle and rushed him to the hospital. This was around 8:45am.

“When we got to the hospital a man at the window took a copy of his insurance card and told him to wait,” Bartolo explained. He said Caraballo, who had lived in Sucker Garden, also had been asked why he hadn’t visited his house doctor.

“All this time he (Caraballo) was crying out in pain. He was moving from one chair to the other crying out for pain. He begged to see a doctor and he kept saying, ‘I am going to die here if I don’t see a doctor,’” Bartolo said.

He said what was strange was that another patient had come in after Caraballo and had been whisked away into the emergency room, while Caraballo had been left in the waiting area.

About half an hour Bartolo said he had asked Caraballo to sit still at a location to get some “fresh air.” Caraballo collapsed into the chair soon after and was later taken inside for medical attention. “About 15 minutes after they came out and asked me if I was related to him and I said no, I was just a friend. They then told me they were sorry, but he wasn’t going to make it.”