Shunyi hospital under investigation after patient death

The Beijing Health Commission and the capital's Shunyi district government have started an investigation on a local hospital and Beijing Emergency Medical Center's Shunyi branch because of an alleged accusation that they delayed medical treatment which resulted in the death of a patient, the district announced on Friday morning.

According to the announcement, the person in charge of the emergency center's branch and other relevant persons have been suspended, pending the investigation.

The whole process, including the center's responses before the treatment, will be investigated.

The district health commission has contacted the families of the deceased and expressed deep condolences for the death of the patient.

On Thursday, a citizen surnamed Song, male, in Beijing published a post online to report on his son's death on May 11.

In the post, Song said his son, 32 years old, who was living in Shunyi district, had chest distress in the early morning on May 11 and called 120 emergency center for help at 3:38 am.

The ambulance arrived at 4:32 am and sent the patient to Shunyi Hospital at around 5:00 am. After two hours of emergency treatment for the patient, the hospital declared his death, according to Song.