Family Sues Waukegan, Illinois Hospital After Woman’s Body is Found on Roof
Understanding the allegations in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a hospital can help families recognize when questions about patient supervision, safety, and potential negligence may arise.
The grieving family of a woman whose body was found atop the roof of a Waukegan hospital has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit was announced by attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the family along with another attorney.
According to the allegations described in the lawsuit, the 28-year-old woman was pronounced dead at Vista Medical Center East shortly after 11:00 PM. The lawsuit contends that she was found on the hospital rooftop that morning and was then taken to the emergency room, where she received treatment for approximately 14 hours before she died.
The family’s legal team reportedly presented a photograph showing the woman on the roof wearing only a hospital gown and underwear. The plaintiffs allege that the hospital failed to adequately supervise and protect her and allowed her to wander through the facility.
Preliminary findings from the coroner’s office reportedly indicated that the woman died from hypothermia. The lawsuit and related reports raise serious questions about patient supervision, hospital safety procedures, and whether additional precautions could have prevented the death.
Quick Answer: Can a Hospital Be Liable When a Patient Wanders Away?
Potentially. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may have responsibilities to provide reasonable care and appropriate supervision depending on a patient’s condition and circumstances. If inadequate supervision, staffing, safety procedures, or other negligent conduct contributed to a patient’s injury or death, the circumstances may potentially support a legal claim.
What Does the Lawsuit Allege Happened?
According to reports surrounding the lawsuit, the woman was admitted to the hospital seeking medical treatment and assistance. The lawsuit alleges that she later left her room and was not located for several hours.
Reports indicate that she was eventually discovered on the hospital rooftop wearing only her hospital gown. The family’s attorneys allege that the amount of time that passed before she was located was a significant factor in the circumstances surrounding her death.
The family has also raised questions regarding information allegedly provided to them by hospital personnel concerning where and how their loved one was found. According to the family’s allegations, they were initially told that she had been found outside a nearby Family Dollar after being discovered unresponsive.
Questions Raised by the Allegations
- Whether the patient received appropriate supervision
- How the patient was able to leave her room and access other areas of the facility
- How long the patient was missing before being discovered
- Whether hospital safety procedures were followed
- Whether staffing levels affected patient monitoring
- Whether additional precautions could have prevented the death
Are Healthcare Facilities Responsible for Absconding Patients?
Questions involving patients who wander away from healthcare facilities can arise in a variety of settings. Similar lawsuits are sometimes filed when residents of nursing homes or other care facilities leave the premises and later suffer serious injuries or death.
In many of these situations, the individual may be particularly vulnerable because of age, cognitive limitations, medical conditions, medication, or other circumstances that affect their ability to safely care for themselves.
A patient who leaves a supervised facility may be exposed to dangerous weather, traffic, falls, or other hazards. Depending on the circumstances, prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can potentially result in serious injuries or death.
Patient Safety May Depend on Individual Circumstances
The level of supervision and protection that may be appropriate can depend on the patient’s medical condition, known risks, ability to safely navigate the facility, and other circumstances. Healthcare providers may be expected to take reasonable precautions when they know or should know that a patient faces a particular safety risk.
Potential Issues in a Hospital Negligence Case
Lawsuits involving injuries or deaths at healthcare facilities can involve numerous factual and legal questions. Attorneys may examine patient records, staffing information, surveillance footage, hospital policies, witness statements, and other evidence when evaluating what occurred.
The following factors may become important when investigating whether a hospital or healthcare provider failed to provide reasonable care.
Scroll horizontally to explore factors that may become important in a healthcare facility negligence case.
Duty of Care and Vulnerable Patients
Hospitals and healthcare providers may owe patients a duty to provide care that meets applicable legal and professional standards. The specific obligations involved can depend on the patient’s condition, the services being provided, and the circumstances known to the healthcare provider.
Patients who are particularly vulnerable may require additional precautions. For example, healthcare providers may need to consider whether a patient has a known risk of wandering, confusion, impaired judgment, or other circumstances that could place the patient in danger.
Whether a healthcare provider acted reasonably can depend on the specific facts of the case. A legal investigation may involve reviewing records and evidence to determine what information was available to staff and what actions were taken in response.
Evidence That May Be Important
- Medical records: Records may help establish the patient’s condition, treatment, and known safety risks.
- Staffing records: Schedules and staffing information may become relevant when evaluating whether adequate personnel were available.
- Surveillance footage: Video evidence may potentially help establish where a patient traveled and how long they were unsupervised.
- Hospital policies: Internal procedures may provide information about how the facility was expected to respond to missing or vulnerable patients.
- Witness statements: Statements from employees, patients, or other witnesses may help establish the timeline of events.
Why a Thorough Investigation Can Be Important
Cases involving serious injuries or deaths at hospitals can involve complicated questions regarding medical care, supervision, staffing, facility safety, and causation. The available evidence may be spread across medical records, internal documents, electronic systems, surveillance footage, and witness accounts.
A thorough investigation can help identify the sequence of events and determine whether a preventable failure may have contributed to the injury or death.
Every Case Depends on Its Own Facts
The existence of an injury or death does not automatically establish legal liability. An attorney may need to carefully evaluate the evidence, applicable standards of care, actions of healthcare providers, and other circumstances before determining whether a potential claim exists.
Talk to a Decatur, IL Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Serious injuries and wrongful deaths involving healthcare facilities can leave families facing difficult questions about what happened and whether reasonable steps could have prevented the tragedy.
Patel Law, PC represents injured plaintiffs and families pursuing claims against negligent businesses and other potentially responsible parties. An experienced Decatur personal injury lawyer can discuss the circumstances of your case and help you understand the potential legal options available.
Questions About a Possible Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Claim?
When a serious injury or death may have resulted from another party’s negligence, it can be important to understand the circumstances and preserve available evidence.
The legal team at Patel Law, PC can discuss your circumstances and help you better understand possible next steps.
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Source
CBS News Chicago – Family Sues Waukegan Hospital Following Woman’s Death
