Las Vegas Hospital Suspends Six After Roshunda Abney, Ignored for Six Hours in Emergency Room, Loses Pre-Term Baby

University Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV, has suspended six employees while the county launches an investigation of claims made by Roshunda Abney, 25, that on November 30, she was ignored for six hours in the emergency room in excruciating abdominal pain. She eventually left the emergency room and went home after not being seen by any medical personnel. She later gave birth to a 1 lb. 6 oz. premature baby girl, Angel Nicole Dewberry, who later died. Abney's story was corroborated by several other people who were also in the waiting room at the only public hospital in the region. This is reminiscent of the Esmin Green incident at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, in which the woman died while being ignored by hospital staff.

Witnesses who were in the waiting room have corroborated accounts by Abney and her fiance, Raffinee Dewberry. They said a nursing aide told them to mind their own business or they wouldn't see a physician themselves. Hospital chief Kathy Silver has promised action against those responsible if the allegations are true. Ms. Abney, who does not have health insurance, said she was also turned away from Valley Hospital. It is a sad commentary that people are treated like second class citizens in this country when they do not have health insurance. This is further proof that we need health care reform in this country.

Family members have reportedly said Roshunda Abney had no idea she was pregnant. Still, the baby's fate may have been different had the medical staff at UMC paid attention to her and sent her to the triage area to be seen by a doctor. This is a travesty and it just infuriates me that incidents of this nature continue to occur in this country. The picture of Angel Nicole Dewberry is one that should stay in the minds of us all. It is further proof that we need health care reform in this country immediately. It is also proof that medical care isn't color blind in this country. The residents of Las Vegas need to be blowing up the phone lines of their elected officials.