5-year-old dies hours after arriving

A 5-year-old Japanese tourist who had complained of abdominal pain before and on the way to Saipan died last Wednesday.

The Department of Public Safety responded to a call at approximately 1:47am Wednesday due to a child choking at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in Garapan. Officers arrived two minutes later and found medical personnel performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation while moving the child toward the ambulance.

The boy was pronounced dead at 2:16am after Commonwealth Health Center medical staff took over the medical personnel performing CPR throughout the transport to the CHC emergency room.

According to DPS, the child, along with his parents, arrived from Japan at 6pm last Tuesday, Dec. 26, for vacation.

Before leaving Japan and all throughout the check-in process, the victim complained of abdominal pain. Family members gave the boy water but he was unable to keep fluids down.

The victim’s father received clearance from their Japanese health insurance provider between 12am and 1am yesterday and prepared to take the child to CHC, and then found the child not breathing. He then called the hotel’s front desk.

Saipan Tribune contacted CHC and asked what should family members do—local or tourists—in the event of emergencies.

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Esther Muña said the hospital is bound by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It is a federal law that requires hospitals to attend to anyone coming to the emergency room to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

CHCC emergency care is provided to all who seek services regardless of age, sex, disability, religious beliefs, political beliefs, cultural background, educational levels, national origin, or ability to pay.

“We have a way to contact the insurance provider for the patient. When patients are brought to the ER, the priorities are to treat and stabilize the patient and we would ask about financials later. This goes for anyone, whether local or tourist, “ Muna said

“We have a system in place where we assist the patient or family members to verify their insurance provider for them. We make communication either by call, email, or fax but only after treatment is made first,” she added.

Muña said it would be in the best interest of the insured if travel insurance or health insurance providers thoroughly explain their benefits, especially if the insured is traveling to U.S. soil.