Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: A fundraising campaign launched for Indian-origin Canadian resident Prashanth Sreekumar, 44, who died of a cardiac arrest after waiting eight hours to see a doctor at a hospital in Canada, is aimed not only at providing financial support to his wife and three children but also at demanding justice. The appeal highlights broader concerns about patient safety, accountability, and prolonged emergency room delays within the healthcare system.
According to the fundraiser, Prashanth overcame numerous hardships while establishing his life in Canada and Alberta, consistently working to support his family and contribute meaningfully to the community. It emphasized that no individual should lose their life while seeking urgent medical care. The tragic death, the statement noted, goes beyond personal loss and raises serious questions about emergency care standards. The fundraiser also quoted Prashanth’s wife, who has bravely spoken out and called for answers, asking who will be held responsible. The family is seeking a clear, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident.
Prashanth Sreekumar’s day began routinely when he went to work, but he was later admitted to Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton after experiencing intense chest pain. His wife, Niharika, recalled that the pain was severe and left him unable to speak. Hospital staff conducted an ECG and reportedly found no irregularities, after which he was asked to wait.
The couple waited for nearly eight hours without seeing a doctor, during which time Prashanth’s blood pressure reportedly rose to 210. When a physician eventually attended to him, he collapsed and died soon afterward. As the case drew national attention and sparked criticism of Canada’s healthcare system, some individuals on social media targeted the family with hostile comments, telling them they should have remained in India.
Responding to the backlash, Niharika said that their family are Canadian citizens who have worked hard and paid taxes, yet when her husband urgently needed medical assistance, it was not provided in time. She also shared that she previously worked as an accountant but had to leave her job because their youngest child requires round-the-clock care, according to a report by the Calgary Herald.
