A student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has penned a scathing letter to the editor, detailing a harrowing experience during a lecture that exposed a glaring lack of compassion and emergency preparedness. The student, who suffered a seizure in the middle of a class, described the incident as one of the most humiliating and distressing moments of their academic life. Despite their visible distress and urgent need for medical attention, the lecturer reportedly continued teaching as if nothing had happened. This shocking indifference left the student feeling dehumanized and betrayed, raising serious concerns about the university’s duty of care. The student criticized the lecturer’s failure to respond appropriately, emphasizing that a seizure is a medical emergency that demands immediate action. They also questioned whether UWI Five Islands provides its staff with adequate training in emergency response or basic first aid. The incident has sparked outrage, with the student calling for immediate action from university leadership. They urged the institution to enforce protocols, train lecturers, and prioritize the health and safety of students. The letter underscores the need for universities to be safe environments where health crises are taken seriously, rather than ignored in favor of academic schedules. The student concluded by demanding accountability, stating that such negligence is dangerous and must never happen again.
LETTER: I Had a Seizure in Class at UWI Five Islands—and My Lecturer Ignored Me
