The ministry of health reports that there was an incident at the Western Regional Hospital this morning. A patient stabbed himself in the presence of hospital staff and other patients. It happened around 11:20 this morning in the Intensive Care Unit. The patient is a 66 year old Belizean farmer was referred to the Western Regional Hospital where he was admitted on Saturday for treatment to stabilize his condition.
Earlier today the patient experienced respiratory distress and complained of trouble breathing and pain in the chest. The hospital internist was called in and worked along with the nurses to help relieve the patient's state of distress.
Around 11 this morning the patient again became very distressed and aggressive towards the attending nurse.
Upon returning to the room, the nurse along with an attendant saw the patient shouting and he suddenly grabbed one of the window louvers, broke it and started to advance towards them. The male attendant then attempted to block the patient who had the broken louver being pointed towards the staff. They retreated and kept asking the patient to refrain from trying to harm anyone including himself. The man collapsed at the bed foot and managed to stab himself in the chest. The patient was subsequently rushed to the operating theatre at Western Regional Hospital and later transferred to KHMH.
