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A man from Alabama died after suffering a cardiac event at Cullman Regional Medical Center because the emergency staff was unable to find a cardiac ICU with a free bed.
Ray Martin DeMonia, an auctioneer in the antique business from Cullman, Alabama, was just three days shy of celebrating what would have been his 74th birthday.
He didn't die of COVID. But he died from COVID. #GetVaccinatedhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/\u00a0\u2026— The FussBudget (@The FussBudget) 1631567677
DeMonia was transported across three states in search of an ICU with availability, but 43 hospitals all told the emergency staff they were unable to accommodate him due to hospitals being inundated with patients being treated for COVID-19.
Alabama man dies after being turned away from 43 hospitals as covid-19 patients pack ICUs, family sayshttps://wapo.st/2VzBCvV— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1631485279
He passed away on Wednesday, September 1 after finally reaching a free ICU bed in Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.
In his obituary, DeMonia's family encouraged people to get vaccinated to prevent others from suffering a loss that could have been prevented had there been a decrease in the rate of infected patients, most of whom were adamantly against inoculation.
"In honor of Ray, please get vaccinated if you have not, in an effort to free up resources for non-COVID-related emergencies."
They added:
"He would not want any other family to go through what his did."
People were enraged over the crisis in hospitals overrun with unvaccinated COVID patients that led to DeMonia's death.
Can Anti-vaxxers be charged with homicide?— joe sutherland (@joe sutherland) 1631491197
Ray didn't have to die hundreds of miles from home after his heart care was delayed in the 44th hospital his medical Center contacted looking for a free ICU bed. \n\nBut his neighbors exercised their personal choice to be unvaccinated.https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/\u00a0\u2026— Grant Stern is fully vaccinated (@Grant Stern is fully vaccinated) 1631486227
WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE LIVING INhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/\u00a0\u2026— Connie Mckenney (@Connie Mckenney) 1631551237
Sad. Avoidable. #GetVaccinatedhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/\u00a0\u2026— Rev. Lee Catoe (@Rev. Lee Catoe) 1631544774
GOP opposing vaccines should ask themselves if they believe Ray DeMonia deserved medical care. \n\nAlabama man dies after being turned away from 43 hospitals as covid packs ICUs, family sayshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/\u00a0\u2026— James Singer (@James Singer) 1631558677
If we want to make the covid vaccine a personal choice, can we have antivaxxers sign waivers that they defer ER treatment to other people who need it in case of full ICUs? If you want to take the risk you can, just not at the expense of others.— Jose Moreno (@Jose Moreno) 1631485904
This is happening all over and these unvaccinated people who are being rebellious about the vaccine think they\u2019re hurting the government or a political party but they\u2019re not only killing themselves, they\u2019re killing other people who can\u2019t get the medical care they need. Very sad!— Shar \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2Mack (@Shar \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2Mack) 1631485917
Unvaccinated are putting everyone in danger.. this is not just ICU but allowing the Virus to continue to evolve and we might be dealing with more deadly version of Delta.. for sure these people who love their CHOICEs so much must not show up at Hospitals..— SupportNoble Cause (@SupportNoble Cause) 1631487548
According to CBS 42, the state of Alabama saw the highest shortage of ICU beds yet during the pandemic.
The Alabama Hospital Association Deputy Director Danne Howard said:
"I can't predict what's going to happen tomorrow, but we're certainly not trending in the right direction."
"That's why we're so aggressively trying to find additional resources, so those decisions don't have to be made, so those type of life-or-death situations are not something that have to be faced."
Last week, Vernon Johnson—CEO of Dale Medical Center in Ozark, Alabama—discussed the current situation with Montgomery Advertiser.
Said Johnson:
"Now's not the time to have a heart attack, or a major car wreck, or something serious because there is nowhere to send you."
"We are holding patients in our emergency room, trying to find beds for them to go to, so they can receive appropriate care."