Alberta Orders Fatality Inquiry Into Death of Man Waiting in Edmonton ER

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones make a health care announcement in Calgary on Nov. 14, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

The Alberta government has ordered a fatality inquiry into the death of a 44-year-old man who died while waiting for care in a hospital emergency room in December.

Prashant Sreekumar had been complaining of chest pain and went to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital on Dec. 22, his wife said in a video statement posted to social media. After waiting about eight hours for care, he collapsed and died in the ER.

Minister of Hospitals and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones announced the inquiry during a Jan. 15 news conference, saying a fatality inquiry was the “highest level of public and transparent review that is possible.”

“After reviewing the information available to me with advice from clinical experts, I have concerns and unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Sreekumar’s death,” Jones said.

He said he asked Minister of Justice Mickey Amery to proceed with a fatality inquiry, with Amery agreeing to the request.

The CEO of Covenant Health, which manages the Grey Nuns hospital, confirmed there were two other people who died in the emergency room on the same day as Sreekumar.

“The emergency department sees some very acutely ill people who experience heart attacks and other things associated with this,” CEO Patrick Dumelie said during the news conference.

He said the other two individuals who died were actively being treated and the incidents have been followed up on and being “well addressed.”

Trial Physicians

Jones said that changes have already been made at Edmonton-area hospitals by trialing a new triage liaison physician role.

“These physicians will be added immediately at the busiest emergency departments in Calgary and Edmonton, where they will work directly alongside triage nurses and emergency physicians to expedite assessments, support diagnostics, and begin care for patients in the waiting room where appropriate,” the minister said during the news conference.

He said that the first phase includes the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the University of Alberta Hospital, and the Grey Nuns hospital in Edmonton, and the Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, and South Health Campus in Calgary.

Jones offered condolences to the family of Sreekumar, saying the government was committed to a “thorough, independent, and transparent review” of the circumstances surrounding his death.

He said he acknowledged the provincial health care system was under pressure, which contributed to the incident at Grey Nuns.

The inquiry will examine the circumstances of the death and make its findings public, offering recommendations to prevent similar cases.

Covenant Health was also conducting a review of the death to “fully understand the circumstances and identify any contributing factors in this case,” Jones previously said.

An independent investigation was also launched by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

Family’s Concern

Sreekumar’s wife, Niharika, has said that her husband’s blood pressure “kept on rising,” with the last measurement before his death reaching 210.

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation says that blood pressure readings “consistently at or above 130/80 mmHg” are considered high.

She said her husband was prescribed Tylenol while he waited at the hospital from noon to about 8:50 p.m., adding the hospital staff did not suspect cardiac arrest and that chest pain was not considered an acute problem.

She said her husband stood up for a “fraction of a second” and then collapsed.

Niharika Sreekumar has blamed hospital administration and staff for the death, saying they did not provide him timely medical help.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.