Iranian asylum seeker is declared ‘brain dead after delay’ in treatment

A 24-year-old Iranian seeking asylum in Australia has been declared brain dead and is likely to have his life support turned off, refugee activists say.
Hamid Kehazaei, was airlifted from Papua New Guinea to Brisbane last week for emergency treatment for a life-threatening skin infection.
According to the Refugee Action Coalition, Mr Kehazaei cut his foot about two weeks ago and the wound was very small, but got infected quickly.
He was suffering from septicaemia from an infection which spread from the cut.
Mr Kehazaei sought medical attention a number of times, and by the time he received it “he had to be helped to walk”, said Mr Rintoul of Refugee Action Coalition in an interview.
He was transferred to a hospital in Brisbane last Wednesday, where he subsequently suffered a heart attack.
The Austratrlian Immigration Department refuses to confirm whether 24-year-old Iranian refugee Hamid Kehazaei was urgently flown for emergency treatment from Manus Island to intensive care at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital on August 27 after an infection for a cut foot caused septicaemia.
Mr Kehazaei was one of the first asylum seekers to be transferred to Manus Island by the former Rudd Government.
“Hamid is a victim of the shocking conditions and medical neglect on Manus Island. It is inexcusable that he developed septicaemia,” Mr Rintoul said.
“Nothing more obviously reveals Manus Island as a unhygienic hell-hole that must be closed.”
A letter signed by Manus Island detainees has accused the Australian organization behind the health of asylum seekers responsible for the “death” of Hamid.
Dated September 1, the letter is directed to the International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), says: “those who have signed this paper consider you are responsible for any consequences of not treatingthe illness of our dear friend.”
IHMS is contracted by the Department of Immigration to provide health supplies for Australian detention centers, including Manus Island and Nauru.