ST JAMES, Jamaica— Police were summoned to the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James on Tuesday after friends and family members of a male patient demanded his release from the facility.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the hospital, Dr Derek Harvey, stated that the patient required treatment but was discharged against medical advice after his friends demanded that he be sent home.

“The incident, which was reported to me as I was in a meeting at the time, was that some friends of a patient that was in the accident and emergency department, who was deemed to need hospitalisation, came to the department to have him taken out,” Dr Harvey said.

He added that the hospital staff advised those who came to have the patient discharged that he needed further medical treatment. They were then advised that if they wanted him released, then government protocol would need to be followed.

“The incident, as was reported to me, was that there was some discussion had between the members of clinical staff, who were there at the time saying that the person would have needed further medical treatment [and] should the need arise for him to be taken from the hospital then they would follow the government protocol of having the person sign out of the department,” he said.

He added: “I understand that they would have had that discussion and it culminated in the person being discharged and the signing out of the person being discharged against medical advice.”

The SMO said that there were no injuries during the incident, which took place about 9:30 am, but he reported that the staff was overwhelmed by the group of people who barged into the department.

“As far as I am concerned the members of staff would have felt overwhelmed by the number of persons who came into the department, but there were no incidents of anyone being hurt or any incident of any weapons during the incident,” Harvey said.

Dr Harvey also refuted claims that nurses had left the compound after the incident. He, however, acknowledged that the nurses were shaken up by the ordeal.

In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Health and Wellness stated that they are aware of the incident stating that the matter is being investigated.

The ministry said the hospital is still carrying out services to all patients.