Coroner claims he’s potentially missing COVID-19 data from Phoebe

ALBANY, Ga. – “We have 167 positive deaths that were reported and possibly more since the three weeks we did not get those report.”

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler claims Phoebe Health System ceased COVID-19 testing on people who’ve died in the ER. And without knowing who might’ve had the virus at the time of their death, Fowler says he’s potentially missing out on crucial numbers and COVID-19 data.

“I found out that Phoebe was instructed not to test any other death that died in the ER. So for the last three weeks I was not getting any report from Phoebe,” says Fowler.

“I respectfully but I also categorically disagree with what Coroner Fowler has said. And I’m going to tell you, it’s simply a gross misrepresentation of the facts,” says Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Kitchen.

Dr. Kitchen says Phoebe does test every patient admitted for COVID-19.

“However, if a patient is brought to Phoebe Putney and they have expired in the field and they are not registered as a patient, we do not do a COVID-19 test on that patient.”

Dr. Kitchen says the hospital is allocated a certain number of COVID-19 tests weekly and cannot perform unnecessary tests.

“If we had infinite testing capabilities we might be able to test every patient that came into the emergency room and is discharged the reality is there’s a limited number of testing kits.”

But Fowler says, testing ER deaths for COVID-19 isn’t only necessary, it’s crucial.

“I have family members calling me all the time wanting to know if their loved one tested positive. They needed to know whether they needed to go and quarantine or if they need to get tested. I had families on hold and I’m a straight forward person, waiting to give them answer.

In a statement Dr. James Black, medical director of Emergency Services at Phoebe Putney Health System, said:

We follow proper medical protocols regarding testing and treatment of all patients.  We do not order unnecessary tests or generate additional costs for a patient when it will not change the clinical course.  We perform COVID-19 testing on every patient admitted to our hospitals and every time it is medically indicated for a patient.  While it is not ethically or professionally appropriate for a hospital to perform such tests on a decedent, the coroner has the right and ability to perform COVID-19 tests on deceased individuals.  We are in contact with Mr. Fowler and are committed to working with him on a process that serves families, provides him with the data he requests and protects our responsibility to our patients.  It is important to note, that a positive COVID-19 test result at the time of death does not necessarily indicate COVID-19 as the cause of death.