This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/21/nauru-refugee-says-medical-treatment-withheld-after-he-had-heart-atttack
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nauru refugee says medical treatment withheld after he had heart attack | Nauru refugee says medical treatment withheld after he had heart attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A refugee on Nauru says he has been denied appropriate medical treatment since suffering a heart attack more than one month ago. | A refugee on Nauru says he has been denied appropriate medical treatment since suffering a heart attack more than one month ago. |
| On 5 November the man, in his early 30s, presented at the Republic of Nauru hospital with chest pain, dizziness, numb feet, cold hands and sweating. | On 5 November the man, in his early 30s, presented at the Republic of Nauru hospital with chest pain, dizziness, numb feet, cold hands and sweating. |
| He was told by doctors that he needed medical treatment that could not be provided on the island because the hospital is not equipped with a cardiology unit, according to an advocate with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Natasha Blucher. | He was told by doctors that he needed medical treatment that could not be provided on the island because the hospital is not equipped with a cardiology unit, according to an advocate with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Natasha Blucher. |
| International Health & Medical Services (IHMS), contracted by the Australian government to provide healthcare to asylum seekers and refugees in Nauru, approved the man’s transfer to Papua New Guinea for treatment, Blucher said. | International Health & Medical Services (IHMS), contracted by the Australian government to provide healthcare to asylum seekers and refugees in Nauru, approved the man’s transfer to Papua New Guinea for treatment, Blucher said. |
| “He was told he would be sent on 23 November, which came and went, and then a doctor rang him on December 1 and said there had been problems with planes to Papua New Guinea and that he would be sent within one week,” she said. “But he still hasn’t been transferred.” | “He was told he would be sent on 23 November, which came and went, and then a doctor rang him on December 1 and said there had been problems with planes to Papua New Guinea and that he would be sent within one week,” she said. “But he still hasn’t been transferred.” |
| The man, who wanted to be identified under the pseudonym “Yusuf”, told Guardian Australia through an interpreter that he was intermittently suffering from chest pains, chills and numbness. | The man, who wanted to be identified under the pseudonym “Yusuf”, told Guardian Australia through an interpreter that he was intermittently suffering from chest pains, chills and numbness. |
| “I’m not feeling well at all right now,” he said. “I’m really upset of course. I’m upset first of all but I’m mentally disturbed because I feel they’re doing this to push myself to the brink where I will kill myself out of desperation.” | “I’m not feeling well at all right now,” he said. “I’m really upset of course. I’m upset first of all but I’m mentally disturbed because I feel they’re doing this to push myself to the brink where I will kill myself out of desperation.” |
| Yusuf, who lives in the community, said he did not have any family with him and that he was sleeping in the same room as a friend, who was monitoring him and helping him with basic tasks. The accommodation is 40 minutes’ walk away from shops and other amenities but Yusuf grows dizzy and is unable to walk long distances. | Yusuf, who lives in the community, said he did not have any family with him and that he was sleeping in the same room as a friend, who was monitoring him and helping him with basic tasks. The accommodation is 40 minutes’ walk away from shops and other amenities but Yusuf grows dizzy and is unable to walk long distances. |
| “My friend is the only one helping me, he cooks my food and I don’t have anyone else who can give me any help,” he said. | “My friend is the only one helping me, he cooks my food and I don’t have anyone else who can give me any help,” he said. |
| Australian lawyers representing the man, from the national justice project, declined to comment. | Australian lawyers representing the man, from the national justice project, declined to comment. |
| Guardian Australia understands the Australian government has sought its own, separate medical advice about the man. | |
| A spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it did not provide specific details on the health and transfer arrangements of individuals. | |
| “Decisions about medical transfers are made on a case by case basis according to clinical need, in consultation with the contracted health services provider and the government of Nauru,” he said. | |
| In September, an Afghan man also on Nauru said he was not provided with the urgent medical treatment required after suffering from heart problems. The man was asked to write a will and requested that, if he died, the Australian government care for his children and provide them with an education. | In September, an Afghan man also on Nauru said he was not provided with the urgent medical treatment required after suffering from heart problems. The man was asked to write a will and requested that, if he died, the Australian government care for his children and provide them with an education. |
| And in May, a 26-year-old Bangladeshi refugee died in Nauru hospital from suspected heart failure after suffering a series of heart attacks. Plans were made to take him to Australia by air ambulance but he could not be moved. | And in May, a 26-year-old Bangladeshi refugee died in Nauru hospital from suspected heart failure after suffering a series of heart attacks. Plans were made to take him to Australia by air ambulance but he could not be moved. |
| The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre chief executive, Kon Karapanagiotidis, said that “We cannot allow Yusuf to become another appalling failure of our government’s duty of care”. | The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre chief executive, Kon Karapanagiotidis, said that “We cannot allow Yusuf to become another appalling failure of our government’s duty of care”. |
| “He must be transferred to safety immediately,” he said. “Australian authorities have a duty of care to refugees and people seeking asylum regardless of whether they are in detention centres or living in the community offshore and they are once again failing in that responsibility.” | “He must be transferred to safety immediately,” he said. “Australian authorities have a duty of care to refugees and people seeking asylum regardless of whether they are in detention centres or living in the community offshore and they are once again failing in that responsibility.” |