Family Demands Change After 20-Year-Old Dies Post ER Visit

UPDATE: The family of 20-year-old Rowan Hamilton, who tragically died following a visit to Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH), is urgently calling for systemic changes in British Columbia’s healthcare system. Their demands come after Rowan’s untimely death on November 19, 2023, just one day after he was sent home from the ER with a prescription for antibiotics without proper testing.

Rowan experienced severe symptoms, including shortness of breath and chest tightness, prompting his family to seek help at SMH. Alarmingly, his symptoms worsened after his visit, leading to his collapse at work the following day. He was quickly transported to Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH), where doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs and an enlarged heart. Tragically, he succumbed to catastrophic brain failure shortly after.

Rowan’s father, Justin Hamilton, believes that the overwhelming workload of healthcare professionals contributed to this preventable tragedy. “Had his doctors spent more time with him, they probably would have run the correct test,” Justin stated, emphasizing that the overwhelming conditions in the ER had fatal consequences.

In response to this devastating loss, Rowan’s family organized a demonstration outside SMH on November 29, 2023, advocating for urgent reforms in the emergency care system. Justin stressed that their goal is not to blame the frontline workers, but to highlight the necessity for improvements to avoid similar tragedies in the future. “We want to see a little bit of change with our healthcare system,” he declared.

The family is specifically urging B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne and the Fraser Health Authority to implement ongoing education for medical staff. They believe this could significantly enhance the treatment of patients presenting with various symptoms. Justin also called for public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on when to use emergency services versus urgent care, aiming to reduce the overwhelming demand on hospitals.

Community support has poured in for the Hamilton family, with individuals across the province sharing their own experiences of similar healthcare challenges. Justin reflected on the outpouring of love for Rowan, saying, “All the messages have been, ‘He was such a good guy.’” He describes Rowan as a compassionate young man who made others feel welcome, adding, “He was a better man than I, and he’s giving me a bar to hold myself to.”

As the family continues to advocate for systemic change, they trust that Fraser Health is investigating Rowan’s case. However, Justin is calling for third-party investigations to ensure impartiality in future inquiries. He asserted, “Having the healthcare authorities responsible for investigating themselves is a little conflicting, in our opinion.”

The demonstration on November 29, scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., aims to draw attention to the urgent need for reform in the healthcare system. “What happened to Rowan was avoidable and preventable,” Justin stated emphatically. “He should still be with us.”

The Hamilton family is committed to pushing for necessary changes in the healthcare system to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak. As they continue their fight for change, they have reached out to various authorities, including the Fraser Health Authority, for comment on the situation.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the Hamilton family seeks to transform their tragedy into a catalyst for change in British Columbia’s healthcare landscape.