3 Jul 2012

Samoa probe into death during hospital power failure

1:55 pm on 3 July 2012

An investigation is underway in Samoa into the death of a critically ill patient during a power outage at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital.

The Samoa Observer reports it has been alleged by caregivers at the High Dependency Unit that the man's death was caused by an oxygen shutdown when a power failure occurred.

A source, who spoke to the paper on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the power failure happened at about 6am on Saturday.

He says the patient died while the generator was being fixed.

In an email, the general manager of the National Health Service, Leota Laki Sio, says the incident is being investigated.

He says a report would be made public as soon as the investigation is completed.