Chile hospitals ensure patients do not die alone despite pandemic

by Paula Bustamante

All over the world, people are dying alone as relatives are barred from visiting them in hospital for fear of catching and spreading the coronavirus. But not in Chile.

Here, special units have been set up where family members and loved ones are able to say their goodbyes even inside public hospitals where the virus is rife.

“Everyone leaves behind a family and we tried to get to know every person in the time we had,” Natalia Ojeda, a doctor specializing in palliative care at the Barros Luco hospital in Santiago, told AFP.

This hospital has been one of the most affected in a country where more than 9,000 people have died with COVID-19 and which has seen over 340,000 cases amongst the 18 million population.

For two months now, the intense work routine has pushed Ojeda and her colleague Moyra Lopez to their limits.

“Before the pandemic we were used to patients dying but in their homes, surrounded by their families — very different deaths to what we are seeing with COVID,” said Lopez.

Around 60 people have died in the unit set up in the Barros Luco hospital where the two doctors work.

More than half were visited by family members and others died after a video call with those close to them.

Lopez carries around a tablet with which she can pass on audio or video messages like “thank you daddy for everything, rest now,” or “dear grandad, listen to this song you love so much.”

The unit is in a ward with windows that allow in natural light and the murmur of nature. It was set up amidst the panic of soaring coronavirus cases.

Both Ojeda and Lopez say that after hearing about the coronavirus patients dying alone in Europe and China, the hospital management made a priority of providing staff specialized in easing pain and terminal patients.

“The last week of June was the peak week, our ward was constantly full,” said a tearful Ojeda, 37.

“Every death is unique and is a different experience.” (AFP)