Elon Musk Slams Healthcare System After Indian-Origin Man ER Death

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: The tragic death of Prashant Sreekumar, a 44-year-old Indian-origin man in Edmonton, Canada, has sparked international outrage after he reportedly died of a cardiac arrest following an eight-hour wait in a hospital emergency room. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has now weighed in on the incident, using it to sharply criticize government-run healthcare systems.

The Incident: Eight Hours of Agony

On December 22, 2025, Prashant Sreekumar, an accountant and father of three, began experiencing severe chest pains while at work. He was rushed to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in southeast Edmonton around 12:15 PM.

According to his family, Prashant was triaged but then left to wait in the emergency room for hours. His wife, Niharika, and father, Kumar, recounted a harrowing ordeal:

• Intense Pain: Prashant told his father and staff his pain was “15 out of 10.”
• Rising Vitals: His blood pressure reportedly soared to 210, far above the healthy range.
• Minimal Care: Despite the classic signs of a heart attack, the family claims he was only given Tylenol while waiting.
• The Collapse: At approximately 8:50 PM—more than eight hours after arrival—Prashant was finally called into the treatment area. Seconds later, he stood up, clutched his chest, and collapsed. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Elon Musk’s Reaction

The story gained global traction after a video of Niharika Sreekumar’s tearful testimony went viral on X (formerly Twitter). Elon Musk reshared the video, delivering a blunt assessment of public healthcare.

“When the government does medical care, it is about as good as the DMV,” Musk posted, comparing the Canadian healthcare system to the often-criticized U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles.

In follow-up comments, Musk suggested that future technology—specifically AI tools like Grok and Tesla’s Optimus robots—could eventually provide more efficient and timely medical assistance than current bureaucratic systems.

A Family Demanding Justice

The Sreekumar family is devastated and looking for accountability. Niharika expressed her frustration, noting that they are Canadian citizens who have consistently paid into the system they believed would protect them.

“The hospital administration and the employees have basically killed my husband by not providing him with timely medical help,” she stated in the viral video. She also alleged that hospital security was “insensitive,” calling her rude when she demanded urgent care for her husband.

Official Response

Covenant Health, the organization that operates Grey Nuns Community Hospital, issued a statement expressing deep sadness and offering condolences. However, they cited privacy regulations as the reason they could not discuss the specific details of Sreekumar’s care. The case has since been referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for a full investigation.

Wider Implications

This tragedy has reignited a fierce debate over Canada’s healthcare crisis, specifically regarding:

1. ER Wait Times: The incident highlights the growing strain on Canadian emergency departments.
2. Triage Protocols: Questions are being raised about why a patient with severe chest pain and extreme hypertension was not treated as a high-priority emergency.
3. Accountability: Community leaders are calling for transparent investigations into whether negligence or systemic failures played a role.

Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and three children, aged 3, 10, and 14. A fundraiser has been started to support the family as they seek justice.