Family threatens lawsuit over leptospirosis death

Rampersad was buried on Wednesday, but on Friday his sister Carmen Martineau, related the horror of seeing her brother wait until his death, for dialysis.

Rampersad, a spare parts attendant, fell ill on Boxing Day with high fever. Taken to a doctor the following day, his condition worsened. He was then rushed to a private clinic at Rodney Road, Endeavour Village.

At the clinic, blood tests were taken and results revealed that Rampersad had contracted leptospirosis. Martineau told the Sunday Newsday that her brother kept poultry at his home as a hobby. One can contract leptospirosis from rat urine or droppings, and if untreated it is fatal.

On December 30, Rampersad was rushed to the Mount Hope Hospital. He died around 3.15 pm on Old Year’s Day.

Martineau said when Rampersad was wheeled into the Dialysis Treatment Ward, a senior physician told family members that he should have been hooked up to the machine upon his arrival at the hospital.

Martineau said the family intends to take legal action. They have written a letter to Health Minister John Rahael informing him of the events surrounding her brother’s death.

"I am very displeased with the health system. The Health Minister Rahael is doing his best but his staff is playing the fool. He needs to know what exactly is going on in the hospitals," Martineau said.