Watch Online

Watch Online
LIVE: newscasts on the Web

°

Homepage / Jacksonville News
Text Size

Woman Dies After Alleged 12-Hour Wait At Shands Emergency Room

Woman Complains Of Abdominal Pain, Dies Of Blood Clot

POSTED: 4:06 p.m. EST January 8, 2004

A man is grieving the loss of his girlfriend after he said they spent half a day waiting at an emergency room without ever seeing a doctor. Now, that woman is dead.

ProctorMichael Speed still can't believe his girlfriend, 38-year-old Alberta Proctor, is dead. A blood clot killed her, and Speed knew she had a history of seizures. But he had no idea she was suffering a life-threatening condition.

In the weeks before her death, she went to Shands Hospital's ER twice.

"It was abdominal pains, and she said she could feel it moving. … She could feel it moving up inside her," explained Speed of his girlfriend's condition.

"We just sit there and sit there and sit there," he said.

On Dec. 22, Proctor went to Shands after having a seizure. Speed said they got there at 10 a.m. and she was triaged -- meaning someone in the ER took her vitals and evaluated her condition.

Speed said she didn't see a doctor until 11 hours later, and she didn't leave the hospital until 5 a.m.

On Jan. 3, Speed said he took her back to the ER at 2 p.m. with chest pains. He said Proctor was triaged at 2:15 p.m., then triaged again at 10 p.m. According to Speed, they sat there until 1:55 a.m. without seeing a doctor, and that's when Proctor said she was leaving.

"I tried to convince her to stay," Speed said. "I said, 'We already weathered the hardest part of the storm. Let's stay.' She said, 'No, let's go.'"

Just two days after the second ER visit, Speed called 911.

"Then she said, 'It's moving, it's moving.' Then she grabbed her chest," he said.

Proctor died before she even got to the hospital. Speed said if he could go back in time, he would have never left Shands Jan. 3. But he still wants to know why it was taking so long to see a doctor.

In a written statement, Shands said:

"Shands Jacksonville takes patient care very seriously, especially in an emergency. We have reviewed the police report and have also internally reviewed the care of this patient. Our goal is to see patients in a timely manner and length of stay will vary depending upon the symptoms presented by the patient and/or the severity of illness."

Speed said his healing would take some time. He's trying not to think of the "what ifs," but he said it's difficult.

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

It was bound to happen. There are now applications for your cell phone that can help you avoid speeding tickets as well as traffic jams. Drive carefully. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

  • VideoClick to Expand

    • Uncut: Palin Talks To Crowd In Orange Park

      Sarah Palin gets off bus in Orange ParkFormer Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's brief remarks to the crowd gathered outside the Books-A-Million at Orange Park Mall, where the outspoken former vice-presidential candidate signed copies of her book.

    • Celebrity Chef Hit With Ham

      While handing out Thanksgiving food donations in Atlanta, celebrity chef Paula Deen was accidentally hit in the face with a ham.

    • Police: Teen Beaten With Baseball Bat

      William FoleyA 17-year-old is fighting for his life tonight after police say he was brutally beaten with a baseball bat.

    • Police: Woman Offers Sex For No Ticket

      Dashcam Of Officer Giving Woman TicketInvestigators say a Bradford County woman who got pulled over for speeding tried to work her way out a trade by offering sex to the officer that pulled her over.

    • Waycross Boy Shot With Pellet Gun, Dies

      Michael Maxwell Jr.Ware County's sheriff says Friday night's shooting of an 11-year-old boy with a pellet rifle by a football teammate remains under investigation.

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand

    • Images: Palin Greets Fans In Orange Park

      Sarah Palin visit to Orange ParkFormer Alaska Gov. Sara Palin and now best-selling author makes a two-hour stop in Orange Park Tuesday morning. Slideshow: Palin Talks To Crowd, Signs Books

    • Best Of The Worst: Mug Shot Hall Of Shame

      Kumari FulbrightCheck out these lookers who ran into the law.

    • Have You Seen These Fugitives?

      Capturing N.E. Florida's wanted suspects is a tough task, so the local station is trying to help with the Wheel of Justice. Every Thursday morning, the wheel spins and a wanted fugitive is profiled. Images: Fugitives On 'Wheel'

    • Images: Locals Line Up For Sarah Palin

      Books-A-Million lineTwo days before former vice-presidential candidate and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is to stop in northeast Florida to promote her new book, "Going Rogue," dozens of people were already in line to get autographs.

    • Must-See Pics: Trunk Ball

      Get your daily dose of the cute and unusual right here.