A group of patients rescued from the earthquake in California were discovered carrying out a bizarre suicide pact yesterday.
By listening in on staff discussions the four had discovered that all of them needed a heart transplant in order to survive, but only one heart was available. Not wanting to leave the decision in the hands of others they began a twisted game of chance, in order to decide who received the heart.
It was a temporary ward, explained Dr. Bowndes. There was a mass of wires on the floor that powered the radios, lamps, ECGs and ventilators by their beds. They went round, in turn, pulling out one plug at a time. They had no idea what was plugged in where it was Russian Roulette with power plugs.
The nurse who discovered the aftermath described it as like something out of a horror movie.