British tourist dies in Iceland due to hospital error
The man died at the National University Hospital in Fossvogur, Reykjavik. Iceland Monitor/Ómar Óskarsson
A British tourist who fell in Reykjavik's city centre this weekend and was diagnosed with a broken rib and sent back to his hotel, died in surgery when his condition worsened considerably due to internal bleeding.
Upon the return to his hotel, the man's condition worsened considerably and he returned to the hospital, when the internal bleeding was discovered and he was sent for emergency surgery.
According to sources of mbl.is the man's wife was left alone in Iceland following her husband's death and noone at the British Embassy was reachable. The British Police was contacted to try to get hold of embassy staff which was eventually successful.
According to Stöð 2 news, both the Directorate of Health and the national police were notified. Eight to twelve cases at the National University Hospital of death due to hospital error occur every year.
Update:
Iceland Monitor received a comment from the British Embassy in Reykjavik regarding this news story. The embassy's comment is published below:
“In a report published on Iceland Monitor on Tuesday 3 May, titled ‘British tourist dies in Iceland due to hospital error’ it is incorrectly stated that “no one at the British Embassy was reachable.” Consular assistance was provided in this case by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in accordance with standard procedures.”
